Landscapes of Powys

About the Area

Powys is Wales’ largest county and, by some distance, its emptiest, a vast sweep of mid Wales covering a quarter of the country’s entire land area yet home to a population smaller than a single medium-sized English town. That emptiness is precisely what makes it such rewarding cycling country, and this short break is designed to give visitors a genuine taste of it, based around the historic border town of Knighton on the edge of the Welsh Marches.

Knighton itself, known in Welsh as Tref-y-Clawdd, “the town on the dyke,” sits directly on the line of Offa’s Dyke, the great eighth-century earthwork that once marked the boundary of the Anglo-Saxon kingdom of Mercia, and is home to the Offa’s Dyke Centre. The town straddles the River Teme, itself a beautiful and little-visited river valley, and makes a natural, well-connected base for exploring the quiet lanes of the surrounding borderland by bike.

The countryside around Knighton is classic Radnorshire, a landscape of rolling hills, hidden valleys and a genuine sense of remoteness rarely found so close to the English border. Quiet lanes climb gently between small farms and scattered hamlets, with fine views opening up towards the Black Mountains to the south and the gentler Shropshire Hills to the east, all with barely another vehicle in sight. It is a part of Wales that many visitors pass straight through on their way somewhere else, which is exactly why it rewards those who take the time to explore it properly.

Wildlife adds a further layer of interest throughout, with red kites a regular and welcome sight overhead, part of the same remarkable conservation success story found across mid Wales. Buzzards, skylarks and a wealth of farmland birds are common companions on the quieter lanes, and the whole area retains a genuine sense of having been largely forgotten by time, in the very best sense.

For anyone wanting a short, accessible introduction to cycling in mid Wales without committing to a full week away, Landscapes of Powys offers exactly that, a proper taste of the borderland’s quiet lanes, gentle hills and genuine sense of space, all from a single comfortable base in Knighton.

Cycling the Landscapes of Powys with Drover Holidays

This self-guided short break is a wonderful introduction to Mid Wales, ideal for city dwellers wanting somewhere accessible yet genuinely far removed from the daily grind. There are no set departure dates, simply decide when you would like to visit and we will take care of the rest. Our Landscapes of Powys package includes pick-up and drop-off at either Abergavenny or Hereford railway station at the start and end of your trip, two nights’ accommodation in quality B&Bs and guesthouses, luggage transfer (this is hilly country, and we know carrying bags reduces the enjoyment of any ride!), emergency vehicle back-up, custom maps with your daily ride highlighted, a detailed route guide with directions and background information, and a well-equipped 27-speed hybrid bike complete with handlebar bag, puncture repair kit, cycle computer, first aid kit, lock and water bottle.