Welcome! Croeso!

The Welsh Community of St Harmon in Powys

Once the Parish of St Harmon in the County of Radnorshire, now designated as a Welsh Community in the County of Powys, our community is at the very heart of Wales.
Situated almost exactly in the geographical centre of the country and surrounded by the stunning landscapes of Mid Wales, this large but sparsely-populated Community straddles the B4518 as it wends its way south from the hamlet of Tylwch and down through the villages of Pant-y-dwr and St Harmon, reaching almost to the market town of Rhayader.

Roughly diamond-shaped, the Community extends westwards beyond the Pont Marteg and across the A470 to the River Wye; to the east it encompasses the gentler hills and valleys leading towards the historic remains at Abbeycwmhir.

The area has a long and continuous history. In the hills around lie a number of Bronze Age burial mounds and monuments. The Romans built a temporary marching camp at Cwm is y rhew. The Church of St Garmon, standing in a raised circular churchyard, is said to be the site of a Celtic mother church dating back to the 5th or 6th century and at Beili Bedw there are the remains of a medieval settlement.

The human population was 536 at the last count, outnumbered at least tenfold by the sheep, making the area one of the most sparsely populated in Mid Wales at a density of just 7 persons per square kilometre. Our landscape is mainly green round hills, reservoirs and forestry, although the western side provides more challenging terrain for dedicated walkers - all the way to Cardigan Bay if you want!
You can walk all day without meeting a soul. And if you stand still for a moment you can listen to the silence.

Accommodation for self catering visitors ranges from camp sites through bunk house, chalets, caravans and quiet cottages. Alternatively, traditional B&B is available at country houses and pubs. Local activities and events are held throughout the year and in the nearby towns of Rhayader and Llanidloes there are many more countryside interests and attractions to enjoy.