Back Wood

Back Wood is a proper forest walk just outside Builth Wells in Powys, the kind of place where you can actually hear yourself think. It's not a manicured country estate or a visitor centre with tea shops - it's genuine Welsh woodland with decent trails that cut through mixed trees and open onto views across the Mid Wales valleys.

Walkers will get the most from it. The paths are well-defined enough that you won't spend half an hour arguing about which way to go, but they're not so obvious that it feels like walking round a city park. Allow an hour to ninety minutes depending on which route you take and how many times you stop to breathe in the air. Bring proper boots if the weather's been wet - it's Wales, so it probably has been.

It's free to access, which is a massive bonus when you're plotting a week away. The wood sits nicely within striking distance of the nearby holiday parks - Fforest Fields, Celtic Woodland Holidays, and Great House Farm are all within a few miles. If you're based at any of them, Back Wood makes for a proper woodland break without needing to drive far.

Summer and early autumn work best. Winter gets dark early and muddy underfoot, and spring's lovely but the midges can be fierce once the weather turns warm. Worth the detour if you like woodland without the crowds.