Craswall Priory

Stone foundations jutting from grassy fields mark where 13th-century Augustinian canons once lived and prayed in this remote corner of the Black Mountains. What remains of Craswall Priory isn't much - scattered ruins of walls and the outline of what was once the church - but there's something rather moving about finding these ancient stones in such wild, windswept countryside.

History enthusiasts will appreciate the romantic decay of it all, though don't expect Tintern Abbey-scale drama. The priory was dissolved by Henry VIII in 1536, and time has done its work since then. What makes the visit worthwhile is the setting - this was always a place for contemplation, positioned in a valley beneath Hay Bluff with views across to the Brecon Beacons.

Walkers tackling the Black Mountains will likely stumble across it rather than seek it out specifically. It's roughly accessible by car via narrow lanes from Hay-on-Wye, though the final approach requires a bit of footwork across farmland. Allow half an hour to poke about and soak up the atmosphere - much longer and you'll have seen all there is to see.

If you're based at one of the nearby sites like Hay-on-Wye Caravan Park or Heart of the Wye Glamping, it makes for a pleasant detour when exploring this corner of Herefordshire. Just don't make it your main destination.