Granner Pool

The water at Granner Pool sits dark and still, ringed by low hills that roll away towards the Radnorshire border. It's a proper reservoir - the kind of place where you get a sense the Welsh landscape hasn't been fussed about by too many visitors. Just outside Presteigne, it's the sort of spot locals know rather than somewhere that makes the guidebooks.

There's a decent walk around the perimeter if you're after some exercise, though nothing dramatic - it's more about the quiet than the scenery. Fishing is the main draw for regulars, and you'll often see people dotted along the banks with rods set up. If you're not a keen angler, the water itself is the thing: reflective, slightly austere, the kind of place where you can hear wind properly.

Families with younger kids might find it a bit underdeveloped - there's no café, no facilities really, just the water and access. But if your lot are old enough to appreciate a walk and some peace, or if you're after a proper walkers' spot, it works. Allow an hour or so for a loop, longer if you're fishing.

It links well with a Powys break. Hush Hush Glamping and Rockbridge Park are both within easy driving distance, and Presteigne itself is worth an afternoon - proper market town with good pubs. Granner Pool is best on a clear day when the reflection's sharp. Rainy weather makes it feel rather bleak.