Crickheath Basin and Winding Hole

The canal basin at Crickheath is one of those overlooked corners that makes Mid Wales worth exploring properly. It's a widened section of the Montgomery Canal where narrowboats would once turn around - hence the winding hole - and it sits just outside Oswestry, close enough for a morning visit but far enough out that most tourists miss it entirely.

What you're looking at is industrial heritage, but the gentle kind. The basin itself is peaceful now, with willows hanging over the water and the occasional moored boat. There's a decent towpath walk in both directions, and if you time it right you might spot waterfowl or even a working narrowboat navigating the locks. The whole thing takes maybe thirty to forty minutes if you're just poking about, longer if you fancy a proper walk along the canal towards the aqueduct at Dinas Mawddwy.

It's ideal for canal enthusiasts and anyone who enjoys a quiet stroll rather than a big attraction. Not really a destination on its own - you wouldn't travel two hours to stand here - but absolutely worth the detour if you're camping nearby at Sweeney Farm Glamping or Fairhaven. Bring a packed lunch, walk the towpath, and you've got a proper afternoon sorted. Free to visit, obviously. The real appeal is that it feels like somewhere locals know and tourists don't, which in Wales is becoming rarer by the season.