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Gyms in Powys

The biggest council area in Wales, with leisure centres in its market towns, Lake Vyrnwy and the Elan Valley in the hills, and two railway lines across mid Wales. Here's where to train in Powys and who to train with.

Gyms and venues
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Towns in Powys

From Ystradgynlais in the south to Welshpool on the English border.

Training in Powys

Market-town pools, big hills and a lot of space between them.

Powys covers 5,181 km², the largest principal area in Wales, and has the lowest population density of any of them. Around 133,200 people lived here at Census 2021, almost unchanged since 2011, and the median age rose from 46 to 50. Newtown, Ystradgynlais, Brecon, Welshpool, Llandrindod Wells and Knighton are the largest towns.

Freedom Leisure runs the public leisure centres on behalf of Powys County Council, among them Brecon, Maldwyn in Newtown, Flash in Welshpool, Bro Ddyfi in Machynlleth, and the sports centres at Llandrindod Wells, Ystradgynlais, Rhayader and Knighton, most with a pool and a gym. Around them sit independent strength gyms such as N-MAC in Newtown and Transformer Fitness in Welshpool, and outdoor centres for caving, paddling and climbing near Brecon.

In a county this spread out, the people you train with matter even more. Gymist is how you find them.

Where to train in Powys

The Freedom Leisure centres first, then the independent gyms and the outdoor centres.

Public leisure centres (Freedom Leisure)

Strength and independent gyms

Outdoor and adventure centres

Find a training buddy in Powys

A lifting partner at N-MAC in Newtown, someone for the Hyrox class at Transformer Fitness, a lane partner at Brecon Leisure Centre: find people nearby who train when you do.

Find a buddy

Start a Powys training group

A Sunday lap of Lake Vyrnwy, a canal towpath run out of Brecon, a Pen y Fan hill day from the Storey Arms: set it up in minutes and we'll help locals find it.

Start a group

Train outdoors

Free places to train in Powys.

  • Pen y Fangraded paths from the Storey Arms and Pont ar Daf on the A470, looked after by the National Trust; Corn Du is about 500 m south-west of the summit.
  • Lake Vyrnwya reservoir finished in 1888, 7.6 km long, with a road round its 19 km shore and seven RSPB trails of 2 to 9 km.
  • Elan Valley reservoirsfive lakes, from Claerwen to Caban-coch, with a catchment of about 180 km².
  • Offa's Dyke Pathpasses Hay-on-Wye, Knighton and Welshpool; Knighton's Offa's Dyke Centre marks the halfway point.
  • Monmouthshire and Brecon Canalstarts at the Theatre Basin in Brecon and passes Talybont-on-Usk, with a towpath you can walk or cycle.

Getting around

Rail lines and towpaths to Powys's gyms.

Rail

  • the Cambrian Line from Shrewsbury through Welshpool, Newtown, Caersws and Machynlleth, run by Transport for Wales
  • the Heart of Wales line, 90 miles from Craven Arms to Llanelli, through Knighton, Llandrindod and Builth Road
  • Builth Road station is about 2 miles from Builth Wells

Heritage rail

  • the Welshpool and Llanfair Light Railway
  • the Brecon Mountain Railway

Cycle

  • the Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal towpath can be cycled its whole length from Brecon
  • the Taff Trail follows the canal for a few miles out of Brecon

Who trains here

What the census says about the people you'll meet in the pool, at the rack and on the hill.

  • 50Median ageUp from 46 in 2011, so training partners here come in every age group.Census 2021
  • 23.1%Aged 50 to 64The largest age group in the county. Plenty of people at the age when a regular swim or class partner makes the difference.Census 2021
  • 14.9%Aged 65 to 74Up from 12.2% in 2011. A walking or swimming partner close to home helps keep a routine going.Census 2021

Powys gym questions

What people ask before they train here.

How many gyms are there in Powys?

Gymist lists 290 gyms, leisure centres, pools, studios and sports venues across Powys, from the Freedom Leisure centres in its market towns to independent strength gyms, outdoor activity centres, yoga studios and martial arts clubs.

Which leisure centres are in Powys, and who runs them?

Freedom Leisure runs Powys County Council's leisure centres, including Brecon Leisure Centre on Penlan, Maldwyn Leisure Centre on Plantation Lane in Newtown, Flash Leisure Centre on Salop Road in Welshpool, Bro Ddyfi Leisure Centre in Machynlleth, and the sports centres at Llandrindod Wells, Ystradgynlais, Rhayader and Knighton.

Where can I swim in Powys?

Brecon, Maldwyn, Flash, Bro Ddyfi and Llandrindod Wells all have pools, and Rhayader and Ystradgynlais have pools open every day with adult lane swimming at Rhayader. Knighton Sports Centre's pool opens Sunday to Friday. Check each centre's timetable before you go.

Where can I train outdoors for free in Powys?

The National Trust looks after the paths up Pen y Fan from the Storey Arms and Pont ar Daf on the A470. In the north, the road round Lake Vyrnwy runs 19 km, and the RSPB has laid out seven trails of 2 to 9 km. Offa's Dyke Path passes Hay-on-Wye, Knighton and Welshpool, and the Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal towpath starts at Brecon.

How do I get to gyms in Powys without a car?

Transport for Wales runs the Cambrian Line through Welshpool, Newtown, Caersws and Machynlleth, and the Heart of Wales line, 90 miles from Craven Arms to Llanelli, through Knighton, Llandrindod and Builth Road. Llandrindod is the largest place on the Heart of Wales line.

How do I find a gym buddy in Powys?

Join Gymist free, add your gym and when you train, and browse members in your town. If there isn't a group for your kind of training nearby, start one.

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