Dan-yr-ogof Shire Horse Centre

You'll find working shire horses in the middle of the Brecon Beacons, which is the sort of thing that makes you do a double-take on the drive through Powys. The Dan-yr-ogof Shire Horse Centre keeps these enormous, gentle creatures - the kind that used to pull wagons across Britain - and lets visitors get properly close to them. It's hands-on stuff: you can feed them, watch them work, learn about their history. The horses themselves are magnificent, and there's something grounding about spending time around animals that size.

This works brilliantly for families with young children, particularly those who've never been around horses before. Adults who remember when these workhorses were common tend to get sentimental about it. If you're camping at Brecon Beacons Camping & Caravan Park - just down the road - it's an easy morning or afternoon stop. The centre fills maybe two hours maximum, so don't build a whole day around it, but paired with the caves at Dan-yr-ogof itself or a walk in the Beacons, it slots in nicely.

Timing-wise, spring and summer are your best bet. The horses need decent weather, and kids frankly get more out of it when they're not shivering. Aber Glamping and Toad & Snail Glamping are both close enough that you could base yourself at either one and include this without much faffing about.

It's honest, low-key entertainment - no theme park nonsense, just animals and a bit of farming heritage. Not overblown, but worth the detour if you're in the area with kids.