Discover Montgomery

Montgomery combines medieval history, peaceful walking routes and family-friendly discoveries to create a destination with many different facets. The town is ideal if you want to experience culture not only through exhibitions, but also by including historic buildings, legends, circular walks and events in your travel plans. Depending on your interests, you can focus your stay more on history, outdoor activities, family experiences or the special atmosphere of the old town area.

Castle Mound, Museum and Historic Town

One of the town's defining landmarks is Montgomery Castle. The castle was begun around 1223 on the orders of Henry III and stands on a steep rocky outcrop above the town. From there, views extend across the Welsh border. Near Arthur's Gate, visitors can also see a reconstructed 20-metre-long foundation line of a tower.

With eleven exhibition rooms, the Old Bell Museum offers broad insight into the area's history. Its themes include Hen Domen, Montgomery Castle, Forden Workhouse and the town's railway history. The Montgomery Life collection illustrates how people in Montgomery lived, worked and learned over the past 200 years. The museum is located in a former pub in the medieval heart of Montgomery.

St Nicholas Church is also noteworthy for travellers interested in cultural history. The listed Grade 1 building was begun between 1223 and 1227. Inside is a medieval carved rood screen, which was brought there from Chirbury Abbey at the time of the Dissolution of the Monasteries. The St Nicholas's Stories project tells visitors about the church's history. A walk through Montgomery also highlights the Georgian Town Hall.

Walks, Cycle Route and Countryside

For a manageable active excursion, the Offa's Dyke Circular is a good option. The easy circular route is 4 miles or 6.5 kilometres long and takes around 2 hours to walk. It passes through parkland and along quiet paths through agricultural land, partly following Offa's Dyke. This allows you to combine a historic landscape connection with your own walking route without devoting the entire day exclusively to sightseeing.

Cyclists also have a specific starting point: the Hendomen & Dolydd Hafren Cycle Route begins in the square in front of Montgomery Town Hall and can be extended as far as Dolydd Hafren Nature Reserve. Those choosing Montgomery as a base for holiday accommodation can therefore choose between a cultural programme in the town, a circular walk and a cycle ride with a more distant destination. Buses from Shrewsbury, Newtown and Welshpool stop at the upper end of Montgomery's market square.

Ideas for Families and Special Dates

Historical themes can be explored playfully with children. The Town of Little Cars Trail is aimed at children aged around 4 to 7, while the Historic Town Quiz Trail is intended for children aged 7 to 13. At Montgomery Play Park, a path approximately 30 metres long with a gradient of 1:10 leads to a step-free wooden deck bridge and then along a tarmac path to the play area. There are also 12 geocaching locations in Montgomery and the surrounding area.

The Montgomery Market, held every Thursday, is relevant when planning special travel dates. The Montgomery Show is a regular town event; its history dates back to 1895. Montgomery Town Hall hosts musical, theatrical and historical events. Another local feature is The Robber's Grave, a long-standing legend about a man who was hanged unjustly.

Montgomery as a Base for Planning Your Trip

Montgomery was originally a walled town with four gates. The area within the remains of the old walls is designated as an outstanding Conservation Area. Near Montgomery's car park is Lymore Park, a 17th-century wildlife and landscape park. When searching for holiday accommodation in Montgomery, you can use these different points of interest to decide whether you want to shape your stay primarily around cultural history, active pursuits or activities with children.

More places for your travel plans: Llanwrthwl, Brecon, Van, Trecastle, Abercegir, Libanus, Llanbedr, Garthbrengy.

For the higher-level travel overview: Powys.