Montgomery

Montgomery is one of those small towns that is worth visiting simply because it is such a pleasant place to wander around.

Historic streets climb towards the castle, Georgian and Victorian buildings surround the centre, and almost everywhere you look the hills of the Welsh border provide the backdrop.

Start in the Historic Centre

Montgomery has retained much of its medieval street pattern, so the town feels noticeably older than many places of a similar size.

Around Broad Street and the Town Hall you will find attractive Georgian houses, traditional shops, cafés and historic buildings packed into a very compact centre.

You do not need a complicated itinerary here. Park up and explore on foot, looking down the side streets and back towards the hills as you go.

Climb to Montgomery Castle

The ruined castle sits high above the town and is impossible to ignore.

It was built during the 13th century on a rocky ridge overlooking the Welsh border and today gives you some of the best views in the area.

Entry is free, and although much of the castle is ruined, enough survives to appreciate its scale and commanding position.

We cover Montgomery Castle separately on the site, but if you are visiting the town it would be a shame not to make the short climb up.

Visit the Old Bell Museum

The Old Bell Museum is a good little surprise in the centre of town.

It occupies a 16th-century building that has served variously as a shop, pub and temperance hotel, and today its rooms tell the story of Montgomery and the former county of Montgomeryshire.

Displays cover the castles, archaeology, local railways, the workhouse and everyday life in the town.

There is also material connected with the Battle of Montgomery in 1644, one of the largest Civil War battles fought in Wales.

Follow the Heritage Trail

If you want to see more than the obvious sights, follow the Montgomery Town Heritage Trail.

The route is around 2.2 miles and takes roughly an hour and a half, linking historic streets, old town boundaries, churches and other places that are easy to miss on a casual wander.

It is a good way to understand how much history is packed into such a small town.

Walk Up Town Hill

If you still have some energy after the castle, continue towards Town Hill and the Montgomeryshire County War Memorial.

The memorial stands high above the town, and the reward for the climb is a huge panorama across the border country towards Shropshire and the hills of Mid Wales.

On a clear day this is probably the best viewpoint around Montgomery.

Stop for Food and a Browse

Montgomery has a small selection of independent shops, cafés and places to eat, which suits the character of the town far better than a busy high street would.

It is a good place to slow down, have lunch or coffee and enjoy the surroundings rather than trying to tick off attraction after attraction.

A Few Useful Tips

Montgomery is only a few miles from the English border and is easy to combine with Welshpool, Newtown or nearby countryside.

The Montgomery Town Heritage Trail is approximately 2.17 miles and takes around 1½ hours.

Montgomery Castle is free to visit and currently opens daily, with longer opening hours during the summer months.

The Old Bell Museum is volunteer-run and seasonal, so check current opening days before making it an essential part of your visit.

The climb towards the castle and Town Hill is quite steep in places, so comfortable footwear is worthwhile.

Allow two or three hours for the town, museum and castle. Add Town Hill or a longer countryside walk and you can easily spend most of the day here.