Cantlin Stone

The Cantlin Stone sits quietly in the Powys countryside near Craven Arms, a weathered chunk of history that won't take long to track down but rewards the effort with genuine intrigue. It's a standing stone - Bronze Age, most likely - the kind of monument that makes you wonder who hauled it upright and why they bothered. The landscape around it is proper Mid Wales: rolling hills, moorland, the sort of place where you can stand for five minutes without hearing a car.

This is one for the archaeology enthusiasts and serious walkers rather than families after a quick photo stop. There's no visitor centre, no interpretation boards explaining everything - you arrive, you see the stone, and you either find it moving or you don't. That's rather the point. Allow half an hour if you're making a special trip, though most people combine it with walking in the wider Shropshire Hills area.

The nearest sensible base is Craven Arms, about four miles away, though the glamping and caravan parks scattered around - Camlad Valley, Offa's Pitch, Mellington Hall - are all within shouting distance and make decent launching pads for exploring this quiet corner of Powys. Winter visits are actually quite atmospheric; summer can get muddy after rain. Go out of season if you want the place entirely to yourself, which you probably will anyway.