Mid Wales

{{short description|Geographic region of Wales}} {{use British English|date=August 2019}} {{Use dmy dates|date=May 2026}} [[File:Mid Wales.svg|thumb|Map of a common definition of Mid Wales following the boundaries of Ceredigion and Powys (in Red), with Meirionnydd (part of Gwynedd), sometimes considered Mid Wales and coloured in pale red]] [[File:Wales Mid Wales locator map.svg|thumb|Two principal areas of Wales commonly defined to be Mid Wales, for regional economy]] '''Mid Wales''' ({{langx|cy|Canolbarth Cymru}} or simply ''Y Canolbarth'', meaning "the midlands"), or '''Central Wales''', is a region of Wales, encompassing its midlands, in-between North Wales and South Wales. The Mid Wales Regional Committee of the Senedd covered the unitary authority areas of Ceredigion and Powys and the area of Gwynedd that had previously been the district of Meirionnydd.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.assemblywales.org/bus-home/bus-committees/bus-committees-second/bus-committees-second-mwr-home/bus-committees-second-mwr-committee.htm |title=National Assembly for Wales. Mid Wales Regional Committee (July 2003 - March 2005) |access-date=30 October 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081013131546/http://www.assemblywales.org/bus-home/bus-committees/bus-committees-second/bus-committees-second-mwr-home/bus-committees-second-mwr-committee.htm |archive-date=13 October 2008 }}</ref> A similar definition is used by the BBC.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/wales/mid_wales |title=BBC Wales - Mid Wales |access-date=30 October 2009 }}</ref> The Wales Spatial Plan defines a region known as "Central Wales" which covers Ceredigion and Powys.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://wales.gov.uk/location/central_wales/?lang=en |title=Welsh Assembly Government - Central Wales |access-date=30 October 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090409200456/http://wales.gov.uk/location/central_wales/?lang=en |archive-date=9 April 2009 }}</ref>

Mid Wales is dominated by the Cambrian Mountains, including the Green Desert of Wales.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/tm_headline%3D-the--lost-land--of-wales-aiming-to-step-out-of-the-shadow-of-snowdon--%26method%3Dfull%26objectid%3D18023663%26siteid%3D50082-name_page.html |title=Western Mail |last=Williams |first=Sally |date=1 November 2006 |work=Cambrian Mountains campaign launched |access-date=30 October 2009 |archive-date=7 October 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121007211820/http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/tm_headline%3D-the--lost-land--of-wales-aiming-to-step-out-of-the-shadow-of-snowdon--%26method%3Dfull%26objectid%3D18023663%26siteid%3D50082-name_page.html |url-status=live }}</ref> The region is sparsely populated, with an economy dependent on farming and small businesses.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.assemblywales.org/394F67450006AD660000210800000000.pdf |title=National Assembly for Wales. Report from the Mid Wales Regional Committee. |date=June 2009 |access-date=30 October 2009 |archive-date=22 February 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120222013319/http://www.assemblywales.org/394F67450006AD660000210800000000.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==Major settlements== {{div col | colwidth=10em}} * Aberaeron * Aberdyfi * Aberporth * Aberystwyth * Bala * Barmouth * Borth * Brecon * Builth Wells * Caersws * Cardigan * Crickhowell * Dolgellau * Fairbourne * Harlech * Hay-on-Wye * Knighton * Lampeter * Llandrindod Wells * Llandysul * Llanidloes * Llanwrtyd * Machynlleth * Montgomery * New Quay * Newcastle Emlyn * Newtown * Rhayader * Tregaron * Tywyn * Welshpool * Ystradgynlais {{div col end}}

==Railway lines== ===Main lines=== * Heart of Wales line * Cambrian Line * Welsh Marches line

===Heritage lines=== * Talyllyn Railway * Welshpool & Llanfair Light Railway * Vale of Rheidol Railway * Cambrian Heritage Railways * Brecon Mountain Railway * Fairbourne Railway * Corris Railway

== Politics == The parliamentary constituencies used for the UK Parliament in Mid Wales are Brecon, Radnor and Cwm Tawe,<ref>{{cite web |title=Location of Brecon, Radnor and Cwm Tawe |url=https://members.parliament.uk/constituency/4500/location |website=parliament.uk |date=July 2024 |access-date=17 October 2025 }}</ref> Ceredigion Preseli,<ref>{{cite web |title=Location of Ceredigion Preseli |url=https://members.parliament.uk/constituency/4508/location |website=parliament.uk |date=July 2024 |access-date=17 October 2025 }}</ref> Montgomeryshire and Glyndŵr<ref>{{cite web |title=Location of Montgomeryshire and Glyndŵr |url=https://members.parliament.uk/constituency/4517/location |website=parliament.uk |date=July 2024 |access-date=17 October 2025 }}</ref> and parts of Dwyfor Meirionnydd<ref>{{cite web |title=Location of Dwyfor Meirionnydd |url=https://members.parliament.uk/constituency/4511/location |website=parliament.uk |date=July 2024 |access-date=17 October 2025 }}</ref>

The region is represented in the Senedd within an electoral region known as Mid and West Wales. This includes Senedd constituencies such as Brecon and Radnorshire, Ceredigion, Dwyfor Meirionnydd, and Montgomeryshire.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Maps |url=https://research.senedd.wales/maps/ |access-date=18 October 2025 |website=research.senedd.wales |language=en-GB }}</ref>

In April 2021, a Mid Wales Corporate Joint Committee was formed to allow the two local councils in the region to collaborate in areas relating to economic well-being, strategic planning and the development of regional transport policies.

== Mid Wales Growth Deal == {{see also|Regional economy in Wales}} On 13 January 2022, the Mid Wales Growth Deal's Final Deal Agreement was signed between the Growing Mid Wales Board; containing representatives from Ceredigion County Council and Powys County Council, and the UK and Welsh Governments. The deal involves the commitment of £110 million of funding from the two governments, with additional funding provided by other public and private sectors over the span of 10 years. The deal aims to increase investment in the region to £400 million by 2032, support an increase in gross value added of between £570 million and £700 million in the region's economy, and create between 1,100 and 1,400 jobs in Mid Wales.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Mid Wales Growth Deal reaches an important development milestone |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/mid-wales-growth-deal-reaches-an-important-development-milestone |access-date=6 February 2022 |website=GOV.UK |language=en }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Mid Wales Growth Deal is signed off {{!}} The Planner |url=https://www.theplanner.co.uk/news/mid-wales-growth-deal-is-signed-off |access-date=6 February 2022 |website=www.theplanner.co.uk }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Austin |first=Sue |title=Growth deal to bring investment and jobs to Mid Wales |url=https://www.shropshirestar.com/news/local-hubs/mid-wales/2022/01/14/growth-deal-to-bring-investment-and-jobs-to-mid-wales/ |access-date=6 February 2022 |website=www.shropshirestar.com |date=14 January 2022 |language=en }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=13 January 2022 |title=Mid Wales Growth Deal: Jobs boost but warning over progress |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-politics-59971629 |access-date=6 February 2022 }}</ref>

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== {{wikivoyage}} * [http://www.growingmid.wales/ Growing Mid Wales] * [https://powys.moderngov.co.uk/mgCommitteeDetails.aspx?ID=896 Growing Mid Wales Board meetings] * [https://powys.moderngov.co.uk/ieListMeetings.aspx?CommitteeId=920 Mid Wales Corporate Joint Committee] * [https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/wales/mid_wales The BBC's Mid Wales page] * [https://web.archive.org/web/20041031075035/http://www.wda.co.uk/index.cfm/property_advice_and_support/wda_properties/mid_wales_properties/overview_of_mid_wales/en2654 Overview of Mid Wales] by the Welsh Development Agency * [https://web.archive.org/web/20150528155726/http://www.wales.com/en/content/cms/English/About_Wales/Regions/Mid/Mid.aspx Mid Wales Region on Wales.com]

Category:Regions of Wales Category:Economic regions of Wales