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Powis Castle and the Montgomery Canal

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Walk directions

From the main car park go past the tourist information centre, then go left along Church Street. At the crossroads in the centre of town, turn right to head up Broad Street, which later becomes High Street.

When you get to a point soon after the town hall, turn left past a small car parking area and pass through the impressive wrought iron gates of the Powis Castle Estate. Now follow the tarmac drive through the park grounds and past Llyn Du (which means ‘the black lake’).

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Location

Nearest postcode:

Additional information

Terrain - Tarmac drive, field path, canal tow path, some stiles

Landscape - Country town, parkland and canal

Dog friendliness - Dogs not allowed on the Powis Castle Estate deer park

Parking - Large pay car park off Church Street, Welshpool

Toilets en route - By Tourist Information Centre in car park

Walks in Powys

About the walk

A prosperous and bustling market town set amid rolling green hills, woods and hedgerows, Welshpool has always been synonymous with the nearby River Severn. It was the Severn that brought trade to the town, for it was navigable by boat. The town was, until 1835, known as Pool and some of the old... mileposts still refer to Pool. The ‘Welsh’ was added to distinguish the place from Poole in Dorset. When you walk up the busy High Street today you’ll notice the fine architecture. While most of it dates from Georgian times, like the Royal Oak Hotel, there are also many older half-timbered buildings. Almost every tourist who comes to Welshpool comes to see the fine castle of Powis. On this route you turn off through the impressive wrought-iron gates before strolling along the long drive through the estate’s parklands. Proud oaks are scattered on the well-mown grasslands and a majestic scene is set when you see deer roaming among the trees. Today the castle is a grand red mansion, with castellated ramparts, tall chimneys, rows of fine leaded windows and 17th-century balustraded terraces looking over manicured lawns and neatly clipped yews. Lead statues of a shepherd and shepherdess survive from those early days and keep watch over the colourful shrubs and perennial borders. However, the scene would have been very different in 1200, when the castle was first built for the warring Princes of Powys. The battlements would have been there, but there would have been no elegant windows or pretty gardens, for this place was designed to repel enemies, both English and Welsh: more often than not Powis sided with the English, even against the Glyndwr rebellion. The fact that Powis has been continuously occupied has meant it has made a successful transition from fortress to a comfortable grand mansion. In 1587 the powerful Herbert family, who became the Earls of Powis, took possession of the castle. They were to reside here until 1988, when the 6th Earl died, the National Trust already having taken ownership. Only for a brief period, when they were attacked by Cromwellian forces and replaced by their bitter rivals, the Myddletons of Chirk, were the Royalist Herberts displaced. On leaving the castle behind, you are in rural Wales and you descend to the tow path of the Montgomery Canal at the Belan Locks. Built by three different companies and opened in stages from 1796, the canal was designed for narrowboats.

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About the area

The largest unitary authority in Wales, Powys covers an area of approximately 2,000 square miles. Much of that is mountainous because it actually has the lowest population density of all the Welsh counties.

Route details

Difficulty:

Easy

Gradient:

Gentle

Distance:

4 miles (6.4kms)

Ascent:

328ft (100m)

If you like this walk, you can try more routes in the area.

Find more walks in Powys

Powis Castle and the Montgomery Canal

Recommended by

Walk details

Difficulty:

Easy

Gradient:

Gentle

Distance:

4 miles (6.4kms)

Ascent:

328ft (100m)

Walk directions

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2 of 5

Keep right at a fork along the drive, which leads to the north side of the castle. You can detour from the walk here to visit the world-famous gardens and the castle with its paintings, furniture and works of Indian art collected by Robert Clive. Continue on the walk on the high road, and follow it past two more pools on the left and the Ladies Pool on the right to reach a country lane.

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Turn left along the lane. Opposite the next estate entrance leave the lane over a stile beside a gate on the right, from which a faint grass track winds down to cross a bridge. Go ahead through the left-hand gate. Continue over another stile in the corner along the path, which gently falls to a stile next to a gate that leads out to a lane beside the Montgomery Canal. This canal, which runs for 33 miles (53km) from Welsh Frankton in Shropshire to Newtown in Powys, is gradually being restored. You may see narrowboats cruising along this section.

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Cross the bridge at Belan Locks, immediately dropping left to the canal tow path. Head north along the canal, later passing beneath the main road. Cross an arm of the canal immediately after the road bridge and turn left at a T-junction by Whitehouse Bridge Nature Reserve on the right. Follow the canal tow path into Welshpool. Remain on the tow path, passing Y Lanfa: Powysland Museum and Welshpool Library (on the opposite bank). The museum depicts the archeology and social history of the area. Beyond a short aqueduct and former railway bridge, climb out to the road at bridge 118 and turn left back to the car park.

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Location

Starting point

Nearest postcode:

Additional information

Terrain - Tarmac drive, field path, canal tow path, some stiles

Landscape - Country town, parkland and canal

Dog friendliness - Dogs not allowed on the Powis Castle Estate deer park

Parking - Large pay car park off Church Street, Welshpool

Toilets en route - By Tourist Information Centre in car park

Walks in Powys

About the walk

Been on this walk?

Send us photos or a comment about this route. Or recommend a route of your own.

Find out more

Walking in Safety

Read our tips to look after yourself and the environment when following this walk.

Learn more

Get an AA guide

Explore our range of ‘50 Walks in’ guides - they’re the ideal companion for a ramble.

Learn more

Been on this walk?

Send us photos or a comment about this route. Or recommend a route of your own.

Find out more

Walking in Safety

Read our tips to look after yourself and the environment when following this walk.

Learn more

Get an AA guide

Explore our range of ‘50 Walks in’ guides - they’re the ideal companion for a ramble.

Learn more

About the area

Powys

Powis Castle and the Montgomery Canal

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Powis Castle and the Montgomery Canal

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