The colourful carnival that parades its way through Llanidloes every summer is a vibrant testament to this warm, welcoming Welsh community and the characters within it.

Llanidloes is not your average Welsh town, thanks to the presence of local artists, community workers and imaginative souls who make it a haven for counterculture and diversity. Expect to find some of Wales’ best fairtrade shops, vegetarian wholefood cafes and live music, poetry and stand-up comedy on any night of the week.

Deep in the heart of the medieval kingdom of Arwystli, Llanidloes is the first town on the River Severn and it is blessed with some of the very best self-catering cottages in Wales, making it an ideal location from which to explore the river and stunning local scenery such as the Llyn Clywedog dam and reservoir.

Activities available in the area include golf at the excellent Llanidloes Golf Club, archery, abseiling, canoeing on the Severn and horse riding or cycling in the Hafren Forest.