The community also includes the smaller settlements of Llanwrtyd and Abergwesyn, the valley of the Afon Irfon, and a large part of the "Desert of Wales".

The Abernant Lake Hotel[3] was built on the site of an old farm, to cater for the many visitors, keen to take the spa waters.

Theophilus Evans of waters claimed to have healing properties, Llanwrtyd Wells became a spa town.

The fashion for spas reached its peak in the Victorian era and many of the hotels in the town date back to that time.

In contrast to its history as a spa town, when hundreds flocked to take the waters for their claimed medicinal effects, the area is now better known for recreations such as pony trekking, mountain biking, walking and birdwatching, and for its annual Man versus Horse Marathon, Beer Festival, World Bog Snorkeling Championship and Welsh Open stone skimming championship.

The World Record for the longest distance a stone has been skimmed was set on Abernant Lake by Dougie Isaacs, a Scotsman.

[11] In 1984 the town was the location for the filming of the BBC sitcom The Magnificent Evans, written by Roy Clarke and starring Ronnie Barker, Sharon Morgan and Myfanwy Talog.

Heart of Wales line trains between Swansea and Shrewsbury call four times a day each way Monday to Saturday and twice each way on Sunday (2019 timetable)[23] The town is the home of Robin Kevan, also known as "Rob the Rubbish", who has become famous for his efforts to clean up Britain's countryside.