Crawshay's Tower

Crawshay's Tower sits on a windswept hillside above Neath, a sturdy stone folly that looks like it's been brooding over the valleys for centuries. It's actually from the 1830s - built by William Crawshay II, an iron magnate who fancied himself a bit of a romantic. The tower itself isn't massive, but it commands proper views across Powys and the surrounding moorland, which is the whole point really.

You can't go inside - it's closed off and frankly there's not much to see if you could - but the walk up is the thing. It's steep enough to warm you up but not punishing, and once you're there you've got those sweeping vistas that justify the effort. The landscape around here rolls beautifully, especially in winter when the mist sits in the valleys. Walkers will get the most from it; it's not a destination for sitting about, but rather a target for a decent afternoon ramble from Neath.

Historians might appreciate what Crawshay was trying to do with all this - the tower's partly vanity, partly about marking territory in what was already an industrial heartland. If you're based at Four Falls Glamping or Willow Springs Campsite nearby, it's an excellent half-day detour. Allow two hours for the walk and time at the top without rushing. Best visited when the weather's clear enough to see something; no point in a foggy day unless you enjoy walking through cloud.