Autumn in Powys: The Landscape Changes Colour

There’s a point every year when Powys begins to change.

The bracken turns copper, greens deepen into gold and rust, hedgerows fill with berries and the first leaves begin gathering along the lanes. Mornings arrive with mist sitting low in the valleys and, by evening, there’s suddenly a reason to light the fire again.

Autumn has arrived.

And across a county as big and varied as Powys, it doesn’t look quite the same everywhere.

Into the Cambrian Mountains

Autumn suits the Cambrian Mountains.

This is a landscape of open hills, deep valleys, rivers, reservoirs and huge skies, where the changing season makes everything feel a little wilder. Heather, grasses and bracken shift into muted browns, reds and golds, while mist and low cloud can completely change a familiar view in the space of an hour.

It’s a good season for walking, cycling or simply taking the long way through, stopping when the view demands it and keeping the waterproofs somewhere within reach.

And as the evenings draw in, there’s another reason to stay a little longer. With very little artificial light across large parts of the landscape, autumn means you don’t have to wait quite so long to look up and see the stars.

Along Offa’s Country

Head east towards the border and autumn has a different character.

Offa’s Country is shaped by hills, farmland, woodland and centuries of history, with the Welsh-English border winding its way through the landscape.

This is walking country, but you don’t need to tackle miles of trail to enjoy it. Shorter walks, old tracks and quiet lanes are just as good for experiencing the season at a slower pace.

It’s also a particularly good time to explore the towns and villages along the border, especially when a walk can conveniently end somewhere involving coffee and cake.

Vyrnwy and the Berwyns

Further north, the landscape changes again.

Around Vyrnwy and the Berwyns, water, woodland and mountains come together, and autumn adds another layer.

Trees begin to turn, migrating birds are on the move and the surrounding hills take on the deeper, earthier colours of the season. On still days, the water catches the changing landscape. On less still days, you are reminded fairly quickly that you are in Wales.

Bring a coat.

The Dyfi Biosphere

Over in the west, the Dyfi Biosphere brings together mountains, woodland, rivers, farmland, wetlands and coast.

Autumn here is a season of movement. Birds are arriving and leaving, woodland is changing colour and wildlife is preparing for the colder months ahead.

It’s also a good time to notice the smaller things: fungi appearing on woodland floors, berries in the hedgerows, birds gathering overhead and those cold, bright mornings that make you very glad you remembered your gloves.

South to Bannau Brycheiniog

Travel south and the landscape changes once again as you reach Bannau Brycheiniog.

Big ridgelines, waterfalls, wooded valleys and open countryside take on the colours of the season, while shorter days mean you no longer need a ridiculously early alarm to catch the morning light.

The weather in the hills can change quickly at this time of year, so good footwear, layers and checking the conditions before setting out are important.

But catch one of those crisp, clear autumn days, when you can seemingly see forever, and you’ll understand why this season deserves a little more attention.

A season of change

Perhaps that’s one of the best things about autumn in Powys.

There isn’t one view, one landscape or one way to experience it. From the Cambrian Mountains to the borderlands, Vyrnwy and the Berwyns to the Dyfi, and south towards Bannau Brycheiniog, autumn works its way across an enormous and wonderfully varied part of Wales.

And while Powys has been changing its colours, we’ve made a little change too.

Mid Wales My Way is now Discover Powys.

It’s a new name, but the idea behind it hasn’t changed. We’ll still be sharing the landscapes, stories, events, people and places that make Powys worth exploring, whether you live here, visit regularly or haven’t discovered it yet.

In fact, the new name simply says a little more clearly what we’ve always wanted you to do.

Discover Powys.

This autumn seems like a pretty good time to start.