Bishops Palace

The ruins of Bishops Palace sit just outside Brecon, a short walk from the town centre through pleasantly unremarkable streets until suddenly you're standing in front of what's left of a medieval residence. What remains is essentially the outer walls and a few internal structures - don't expect a fully intact building. It's a quiet spot, often empty, which is either brilliant or disappointing depending on what you want from it.

Historically it belonged to the Bishops of St Davids, who used it as a country retreat from the 13th century onwards. The layout tells you something about how these people lived - there's enough remaining to make out the domestic quarters and some grander reception areas. If you're into medieval architecture and can read a ruin, you'll get something out of it. Kids will lose interest after ten minutes, to be honest.

There's no visitor centre, no information panels worth reading, and you'll likely find the gate open during daylight hours. It's free, which is the only thing in its favour from a practical standpoint. Allow maybe thirty minutes if you're thorough, fifteen if you're not. The walk from Brecon town itself is walkable but not thrilling.

If you're staying at one of the nearby campsites - Pencelli Castle or Cefn Cantref are closest - it could be a quick morning outing before heading into the Brecon Beacons proper. As a standalone attraction, though, it doesn't justify the trip unless you're already in the area and have time to kill.