Discover the Heart of Wales Line. Take a spectacular journey. Support a rural lifeline. Enjoy railway heritage, vibrant towns, independent eateries, quaint B&Bs and the glorious countryside of Mid Wales and the borders.

Each station along the Heart of Wales Line is a gateway to a community. Unlike urban stations with a high footfall, we have few commercial cafes or newsagents on stations along the Heart of Wales Line, other than at the larger stations either end. Instead, stations are made available to local people - gardeners, rail enthusiasts, small rural enterprises and volunteers.

Shrewsbury

A much-loved town, admired not only for the beautiful old architecture and medieval streets, but also for a wide choice of modern and independent shops. To get there, without the hassle of parking, we recommend the train. Expect to find great places to eat out to suit everyone’s tastes and desires, an exciting theatre and arts scene, immersive historic and cultural experiences and year-round street festivals.

Heading south you will find yourself in a region that has largely been untouched by urban or industrial development, other than traditional farming. The world opens up with one of the first areas to be designated an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Welcome to the Shropshire Hills. Enjoy the views all the way to Knighton, or alight at one of the smaller stations along the way.

Church Stretton

Alight here for a walk - or a run - up the Long Mynd or a browse around the high street show and cafes of this walker’s town. On the other side of Church Stretton lies Caer Caradoc and the atmospheric Wenlock Edge beyond.

Craven Arms

Craven Arms is a busy little town in Shropshire. Alight here for the beginning of the Heart of Wales Line Walking Trail. Visit the Shropshire Hills Discovery Centre in Craven Arms where you can meet the Shropshire Mammoth, explore the 30 acres of riverside meadows and relax in the café, which serves good coffee and traditional home-cooked food, made using local produce. There’s also a gift shop and gallery. Stokesay Castle is another must see, described as the finest and best preserved fortified medieval manor house in England.

Broome, Hopton Heath and Bucknell

These stations are the gateways to excellent walking and off road cycling country with forest paths and downhill tracks at Bucknell and Hopton Heath. Enjoy the great atmosphere in local pubs, sample local produce, maybe take a night or two at a family run B&B. Be on the look out for lovely old churches, a wealth of open art studios and art cafes, unusual breeds of sheep, community run shops and cafes along the way. Did you know the Welsh Marches contain the densest concentration of motte-and-bailey castles in Wales and England?

The train crosses over the border and into Wales at Knighton. Knighton station is right on the border between England and Wales, in fact the station itself is in England and you can cross the border into Wales simply by walking into the car park. The town is situated mid point along the famous Offa’s Dyke which is now a long-distance footpath.

Alongside neighbouring Knucklas (another station), the busy market town of Knighton includes a vibrant community of artists who open up their studios from time to time - all accessible by train and much recommended. Look out for Offa’s Dyke Centre, opened in 1999 and has an exhibition about the famous 8th Century Dyke, which was ordered to be built by Offa, the King of Mercia. With its cafe and free exhibition, the Centre caters for the needs of a wide range of visitors and there is a lovely park and children’s play area around the back.

From Knighton the train takes you across the old county of Radnorshire (now part of Powys) en route to Llandrindod Wells via small vibrant rural communities including Knucklas, Dolau and Pen-y-bont. Much of Radnorshire is within the mountains. The hillsides are rich in sheep grazing, and a delight for wild-country enthusiasts. The Radnor Forest, home to the last dragon in Wales or so it is said, extends to the south - a place to explore - of moors, woods and rivers.

Keep your eyes peeled for Knucklas Viaduct (one of two along the line) which spans a tributary of the River Teme between Knighton and Knucklas. It has 13 arches, with iconic crenelated parapet, round towers at each end and square towers at the buttresses.

Photo © Hawlfraint y Goron / © Crown copyright (2023) Cymru Wales.

The train travels across mid Wales via the old “Spa Towns.” Here people travelled specially to bathe in and drink the healing waters, rich with minerals from the hills. The train stops at the spa towns of Llandrindod Wells, Builth Wells, Llangammarch Wells and Llanwrtyd Wells, before crossing from Powys into Carmarthenshire.

Llandrindod Wells

Known to locals as Llandod, this spa town is a hive of activity. Wonder up to the fishing lake to discover the water beast, best seen on the dragon pedalos. For the more adventurous there are plenty of water-based activities such as canoeing and stand-up paddle boarding, just remember those spare clothes in case you have a tumble. Prefer your feet safely on dry land? No problem, there’s still plenty to enjoy. The Princes Avenue Leisure Park is home to a range of family friendly games such as Crazy Golf and Giant Draughts or if you love cycle museums, Llandod has a good one. Take a wonder through the woodlands at the Rock Park or explore the whole town by following the Heritage Trail.

Builth Wells

Builth Wells is the home of the Royal Welsh Show, a wonderful show with a proper rural atmosphere. There are special trains laid on for the Royal Welsh from Swansea to Builth Road with a shuttle bus service from the station to the show ground. These trains are extremely popular, and there is usually a great atmosphere (and lots of rucksacks) on board. Don’t miss the sheep shearing (shearing has become - pretty much - a proud national sport alongside rugby) the Welsh cobs, the Heart of Wales Line gazebo (well we would say that) and the many stalls showing off Welsh produce.

Llanwrtyd Wells

Llanwrtyd Wells is famous for being the smallest town in Britain and for Bog Snorkeling. It also boasts the Man v. Horse race and the World Alternative Games. The town is surrounded by the magnificent scenery of the southern Cambrian Mountains and it makes an excellent centre for outdoor pursuits such as walking, mountain biking, pony trekking, fishing and bird watching.

Photo © Hawlfraint y Goron / © Crown copyright (2023) Cymru Wales.

From Llanwrtyd Wells there is a long pull up to the Sugar Loaf, one of the most spectacular sections of the entire railway line. At Sugar Loaf summit the train dives into a long dark tunnel through the hills with fantastic views to greet passengers on the other side. Further along the train crosses the beautiful, curving Cynghordy Viaduct. Cynghordy itself is a request stop, but worth a visit if only to walk through the village to Glandwr and follow the little road under the viaduct for a great view of this engineering masterpiece.

Photo © Hawlfraint y Goron / © Crown copyright (2023) Cymru Wales.

The stations from Llandovery to Llandybie via Llangadog and Llandeilo have long been used by keen walkers, for they lead to the glorious and often challenging walking country of Carmarthenshire and the Brecon Beacons. You will often meet keen walkers looking for glorious views, mountain tops and a challenge on this section of the line.

Llandovery

Once an important resting place for drovers, this ‘Walkers are Welcome’ town is now a popular destination with big appeal for visitors and bikers. Llandovery hosts a calendar of family friendly events such as the annual Llandovery Motorbike Weekend, Llandovery Sheep Festival and for 2023 the Urdd Eisteddfod, a uniquely Welsh festival.

Llandovery Castle and the sculpture of Llywelyn ap Gruffydd Fychan is a short walk from the station and well worth a visit. Llandovery has a history steeped in rail heritage, the Llandovery male voice choir, who sang at the launch of the Heart of Wales Line Trail in Carmarthenshire were originally a railway choir.

Llandeilo

Named the best place to live in Wales by The Sunday Times, Llandeilo is a colourful, picturesque town, scattered with an array of numerous small independent shops: fashionable clothing including designer labels, bespoke furniture, award winning local food suppliers, local crafts, and much more. Don’t miss the historic St Teilo’s Church or Dinefwr Park and Castle, all within walking distance of the station. If you have ongoing transport, we also recommend Aberglasney Gardens and the National Botanic Gardens of Wales.

Ammanford

Ammanford was once an old mining town with a fascinating heritage, its name came from the ford once used to cross the river Amman. It is now a great base to explore the Amman Valley and the Black Mountain, we recommend hoping on your bike along the Amman Valley Riverside Path to Brynamman. The grand Victorian Arcade is filled with small independent shops where you’ll find one-of-a-kind items. Grab a seasonal sweet treat from the Coaltown Canteen on the edges of the town, where the new ‘Black Gold’ is roasted on site by hand in small batches to make the finest, freshest coffee.

Photo © Hawlfraint y Goron / © Crown copyright (2023) Cymru Wales.

Leaving Ammanford you will start to see the countryside change as you head towards the salt marshes of the Loughor Estuary and onwards into Llanelli.

Pontarddulais

Known locally as Bont, Pontaddulais is a small Welsh town steeped in history and many stories to tell. Follow the Ramble and Scramble Trail which takes you past many historic sites starting with The Beca Stone, commemorating the site of a turnpike tollgate in Pontarddulais which was destroyed in the Rebecca Riots. The Trail guides you through the town past many independent shops and eateries to the fun filled Coed Bach Park. Continue the route onto the wetlands (you may need your wellies for this part) towards the old Llandeilo Tal-y-Bont Church yard, now re-erected in the Welsh Folk Museum at St Fagans having been dismantled and saved stone by stone.

Llanelli

The bustling town of Llanelli is well known for its Millennium Coastal Path, part of the Wales Coast Path, on the edge of the Loughor Estuary. The 13-mile pedestrian walkway and cycleway links Llanelli with Pembrey Country Park passing various attractions such as the Llanelli Wetlands Centre, St Elli’s Bay Bistro and Brasserie and Burry Port harbour where you’re sure to pick up some delicious fish and chips while admiring stunning views of the Gower Peninsula. The town itself is a hive of shopping outlets where independent and high street names sit side by side. Llanelli’s historical buildings and museums tell the fascinating history of the town’s industrial past in coal mining, tinplate and steelworks.



Photo © Hawlfraint y Goron / © Crown copyright (2023) Cymru Wales.

Onwards on the train again through Gowerton and into Swansea and you have arrived at the south end of the line where our journey ends or begins if you’re heading North. Swansea is a coastal city, located along the Swansea Bay, and the second largest city in Wales. You will find plenty of things to see and do here but here are a few of our favourites.

The National Waterfront Museum, telling the story of Welsh industry and innovation through audio visual and interactive displays. The museum has a replica of the world’s first steam locomotive, a brick press and one of the very few surviving coal wagons.

Swansea Market, at the heart of the city centre, has been serving the community for generations. It is a busy and vibrant market with over 100 stalls including fresh local produce and traditional Welsh gifts and an opportunity to sample Swansea’s famous cockles, laverbread and fine Welsh cheeses.

Looking forward to a wander down to the bay to take in the sea air? From Swansea Bay you can walk out to the Mumbles or catch a bus along the beautiful Gower Peninsula - there is a bus service available should you wish to take the weight off your legs.

Bring your bathers for a fun-filled splash in the LC2 with exhilarating water slides, a lazy river to float around in and a Board rider for those surf lovers.

Photo © Hawlfraint y Goron / © Crown copyright (2023) Cymru Wales.

The world is amazing and it’s here for us to explore, we hope you enjoy your journey along the Heart of Wales Line...