Brechfa Pool Nature Reserve

Water and woodland in equal measure - that's what Brechfa Pool delivers. This nature reserve sits in the rolling terrain between Brecon and the Bannau Brycheiniog, where a quiet pool sits ringed by trees and the kind of stillness that makes you understand why people come here to watch birds rather than crowds.

It's a walker's spot, really. The paths around the pool itself are gentle enough, though the surrounding moorland opens up proper hiking territory if you want it. Bring binoculars. The birdwatching here is serious business - you'll see mallards and tufted ducks without fail, and if you're lucky, something rarer. The pool's shallow in parts, marshy at the edges, which makes it a magnet for wading birds in spring and autumn. Winter brings a different crowd entirely.

Allow an hour for a leisurely circuit, longer if you're stopping to identify things. There's no visitor centre or facilities to speak of, so come prepared - decent boots if the ground's been wet, water in your bag, a field guide if you're into that sort of thing.

Its main strength is being properly quiet. Bryndu Caravan and Camping sits just a mile away, making this a straightforward add-on to a park holiday in the area. Woodland Park Glamping and Great House Farm are also within easy reach. For anyone who wants to break up a week of fancier attractions with something that doesn't demand much but rewards patience, Brechfa Pool works. Families with very young kids might find it a bit thin on the entertainment side - it's birds and trees and water, nothing more.