Llanidloes

The market town of Llanidloes itself is the attraction - a proper Welsh hill town that feels like it's barely changed since Victorian times. The High Street slopes down steeply with Georgian and Victorian buildings crowding both sides, their upper storeys leaning out over the pavement in that wonky, character-filled way that makes you understand why the place has survived without major redevelopment.

The covered market hall dominates the town centre, built in the 1870s with its distinctive iron roof and timber frame - locals still use it for Saturday trading, which gives the whole place genuine pulse rather than museum atmosphere. You can walk it properly in about an hour, poking into the handful of independent shops and cafes that line the streets. There's a small church worth a glance, and the riverside walks along the Severn are lovely if you've got an extra half-hour.

Historically minded visitors will appreciate the Georgian architecture and the sense of how these market towns actually functioned - it's not theatrical or tarted up for tourism. Families might find it a bit quiet unless there's market day on, but older children who like exploring wonky old streets rather than theme parks will enjoy it.

Stay at one of the caravan parks nearby - Clywedog Riverside is barely half a mile away - and Llanidloes makes a good base for exploring the Powys hills and broader Mid Wales. It's a working town, not a destination in itself, which is exactly why it's worth the detour.