We all need a Savior
“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.”
Romans 3:23
None of us can earn our way to God by being good enough. We all need mercy.
🗺️ Farm Day Trips guide
Things to Do Near the Lavender Farm of Builth Wells & Mid Wales
Farmers' Welsh Lavender blooms July–August above Builth Wells, close to Talgarth's working mill, Llangorse Lake and Brecon's 1093 cathedral.
5 places · updated October 17, 2026
✏️ Report outdated info
Builth Wells is a small market town on the River Wye in Powys, best known as home of the Royal Welsh Showground across the 1779 stone bridge in Llanelwedd. The country around it is sheep farms, wooded river valleys and open hill, with the Victorian spa town of Llandrindod Wells to the north, the Elan Valley dams to the northwest and the edge of Bannau Brycheiniog (the Brecon Beacons) to the south. Roads are quiet and distances short, but lanes are narrow, so allow extra time.
Farmers' Welsh Lavender sits on a hill farm at Maesmynis, about 4.5 miles south of town off the B4520. In July and August, visitors walk the fields, gardens and small distillery on a self-guided map, picnic, swim in the farm pond and stop at the café and shop. The farm stays open midweek the rest of the year, with a Nordic sauna you can book any day, so it works as an anchor for a Wye Valley or Black Mountains day in any season.
The lavender farms
- Farmers' Welsh LavenderLavender farm · Builth Wells
Late June onward; best in July and August
Open year-round (Wednesday–Friday September to June; Wednesday–Sunday in July and August, booked); entry covers fields, picnicking and pond swimming; sauna and glamping booked separately.
Best time to visit
Lavender color starts to show at Farmers' Welsh Lavender in late June, and July and August are the best months; the Folgate rows are cut around mid-July and the main Grosso crop is distilled from late July through August. In July and August the farm opens Wednesday to Sunday, 10am–4pm, and booking is required; from September to June it opens Wednesday to Friday. Hay-on-Wye's literature festival fills the town in early summer, and the Royal Welsh Show runs for four days each summer at Llanelwedd, so book rooms early for those weeks. Bluebells fill Pwll-y-Wrach woodland in spring, and Llangorse Lake draws more than twenty kinds of wintering birds. Gigrin Farm near Rhayader feeds red kites every day of the year.
Places to see nearby parks, trails, beaches and landmarks
- Builth Wells riverside (The Groe and Wye Valley Walk)🏘️ Town · Builth Wells · about 5 mi, 12 min drive
Walk the tree-lined path along The Groe to where the Irfon meets the Wye, or follow the Wye Valley Walk from the little suspension bridge to the rapids at Pen-ddôl Rocks. The Norman castle mound is up a steep path off High Street.
free
- Llandrindod Wells Lake and Rock Park🏞️ Park · Llandrindod Wells · about 13 mi, 25 min drive
A 14-acre boating lake with a water-dragon sculpture, café and boat hire, plus Rock Park, an 1860s spa park around the mineral springs with a tree trail and Lover's Leap.
free
- National Cycle Museum🏛️ Museum · Llandrindod Wells · about 13 mi, 25 min drive
More than 260 bicycles, from an 1818 hobby horse and penny-farthings to carbon-fibre racers, in the art deco Automobile Palace.
- Radnorshire Museum🏛️ Museum · Llandrindod Wells · about 13 mi, 25 min drive
Two floors in the old library covering the town's spa years and the social history of old Radnorshire, with photographs, artifacts and fine art.
- Elan Valley🌲 Preserve · near Rhayader · about 20 mi, 40 min drive
Victorian reservoirs nicknamed the Lakeland of Wales, with four dams you can walk, cycle or drive between. The visitor centre, run by Welsh Water, sits beneath a stone dam.
- Brecon Cathedral🏛️ Historic site · Brecon · about 13 mi, 25 min drive
Founded as a Benedictine priory in 1093 and now the cathedral of Swansea and Brecon, with Pilgrim's Café in the cathedral close a short walk from the town center.
- Bronllys Castle🏛️ Historic site · Bronllys · about 15 mi, 25 min drive
A mid-12th-century stone keep on an earlier motte above the River Llynfi, cared for by Cadw. Park in the lay-by on the A479; there are stairs and no facilities.
Daily 10am–4pm, unstaffed
free
- Pwll-y-Wrach Nature Reserve🌲 Preserve · Talgarth · about 17 mi, 30 min drive
Oak and ash woodland in a steep valley where the River Enig drops into the Witches' Pool. A surfaced path runs from the car park; the way to the waterfall is uneven and can be muddy. Best for bluebells in spring.
free
- Llangorse Lake🌲 Preserve · Llangorse · about 19 mi, 35 min drive
South Wales's largest natural lake, with the only crannog (lake dwelling) in Wales, a free interpretation roundhouse and a flat lakeside trail to Llangasty church and a wheelchair-friendly bird hide.
Lakeside café 1 April–1 November, Tuesday–Sunday 9am–6pm; crannog centre 9:30am–4pm
Crannog centre free
- Hay-on-Wye🏘️ Town · Hay-on-Wye · about 20 mi, 35 min drive
A border book town with more than 20 bookshops, a restored Jacobean Hay Castle with a gallery and café, and a Thursday market at the 1830 Butter Market. Farmers' Welsh Lavender also has a shop in town.
Where to stop: farms, food and stays
- Talgarth MillBakery · Talgarth
A restored water mill grinding local grain, with tours, a café and a sourdough bakery Wednesday to Saturday.
- Gigrin Farm Red Kite CentreFamily fun farm · Rhayader
Watch hundreds of red kites at the daily feed from hides on an upland sheep farm.
- Alex Allpress PotteryMaker or artist · Builth Wells
Book a wheel-throwing or hand-building session in Builth Wells for a rainy-day plan.
- The Felin Fach GriffinInn or B&B · Felin Fach
A dining pub with rooms between Builth and Brecon, open all year for lunch and supper.
A one-day plan
- 10:00 AMFarmers' Welsh Lavender
Walk the fields and distillery with the farm's map and browse the shop; about 1.5 hours. Book ahead in July and August.
- 12:00 PMTalgarth Mill · about 30 min drive
Lunch at the café, then join the 1pm mill tour (Wednesday to Saturday); about 1.5 hours.
- 1:45 PMBronllys Castle · about 5 min drive
Climb the free 12th-century keep for views over the Llynfi valley; about 20 minutes.
- 2:25 PMLlangorse Lake · about 15 min drive
See the crannog roundhouse and walk the lakeside trail toward Llangasty bird hide; about an hour.
- 3:45 PMBrecon Cathedral · about 20 min drive
Look around the former priory church and the cathedral close; about 45 minutes.
- 5:00 PMThe Felin Fach Griffin · about 15 min drive
Early supper or an overnight stay; book a table ahead.
Tips
- In July and August Farmers' Welsh Lavender requires booking and charges £7 per adult and £5 per child; the shop and café alone are free (2026 prices).
- Well-behaved dogs on leads are welcome at the lavender farm; dogs on a close lead are welcome at Pwll-y-Wrach.
- The lavender farm is reached by a 1.3-mile lane off the B4520 about 4.5 miles south of Builth Wells; watch for the galvanized FARMERS' sign.
- Llangorse lakeside trail and crannog can flood after heavy rain.
- Bronllys Castle and Pwll-y-Wrach have no facilities; Talgarth has public toilets in the town center.
Checked in October 2026 against official park, tourism and business websites. How we check listings
Questions
When is the lavender in bloom near Builth Wells?
At Farmers' Welsh Lavender, color shows from late June and July and August are best; the main Grosso crop is distilled from late July through August.
Do I need to book to visit Farmers' Welsh Lavender?
In July and August, yes. From September to June the farm opens Wednesday to Friday, 10am–4pm, with no booking needed except for the sauna.
Can you swim at the lavender farm?
Admission includes wild swimming in the farm pond; jumping and diving are not allowed, to protect wildlife.
How far is Brecon from the lavender farm?
About 13 miles south on the B4520, roughly 25 minutes by car.
🪪 Collect a stamp at every stop
The free Lavender Passport keeps a stamp for each farm and stop you visit, in real life and in the Lavender Farm Simulator. At the farm, play Field Quest to collect plant varieties as you walk, climb the leaderboards and unlock sponsor rewards.
Open the Passport🏡 Own a farm, café or inn here?
Add your listing for free so travelers find you, or become a Featured sponsor to sit at the top of this guide, on the Passport map and in the event calendars.
Add your listing Get featured
