Claerwen Reservoir

The drive up to Claerwen Reservoir is half the appeal - winding through those steep Powys valleys until suddenly you're staring at a proper body of water hemmed in by moorland. This is one of the Elan Valley reservoirs, built in the early 1900s to supply Birmingham, and it feels genuinely remote even though Llanwrtyd Wells is only a short drive away.

You can walk right around the dam itself, which takes about twenty minutes if you're not messing about. The water is that particular shade of grey-blue you only get in Wales, and on a clear day the views back down the valley are worth stopping for. The reservoir feeds into a series of walking trails that head off into the surrounding hills - nothing too demanding, but proper countryside with hardly another soul about.

This works best for walkers and photographers rather than families wanting an afternoon's entertainment, to be honest. Kids will get restless after the dam walk unless you're connecting it to longer hikes. The nearby Elan Oaks and Welsh Glamping sites are both excellent bases for exploring the whole valley system. If you're staying in the area, this is absolutely worth the detour - it's free, it's accessible, and the peace and quiet is genuinely hard to find these days. Just don't expect facilities or crowds. Go early in the morning for the best light.