Welshpool is a compact market town in Powys in mid-Wales, sitting on the banks of the River Severn amid the rolling foothills of the Cambrian range. Its Welsh name, Y Trallwng, hints at its marshy origins; the town grew as a market and administrative centre for the old county of Montgomeryshire and remains dominated by the nearby hilltop fortress and spectacular terraced gardens of Powis Castle. The nearby Montgomery Canal and the preserved narrow‑gauge Welshpool and Llanfair Light Railway, which runs to Llanfair Caereinion, add to the town’s historic character and visitor appeal.
Economically Welshpool still serves as a rural service hub, with agriculture, livestock markets, light industry and tourism all important to the local economy. It has a compact high street and community feel, regular markets and events, and surprisingly good connections for a small town - on the Cambrian mainline and with regular services towards Shrewsbury and Aberystwyth - making it a handy base for exploring the Welsh Marches and surrounding hills.