Llyn Coch-hwyad

Red lake, they call it - Llyn Coch-hwyad sits quietly in the Powys hills just beyond Welshpool, a proper mountain water that feels worlds away from the market town below. The walk in isn't arduous, though the final stretch does climb a bit, and you're rewarded with moorland views that stretch for miles and that particular Welsh light that makes everything look sharper than it should.

It's the kind of place that appeals to serious walkers rather than casual visitors. If you're after a gentle waterside stroll with an ice cream van, look elsewhere. But if you want to earn a vista without needing full mountaineering kit, this delivers. The lake itself is modest - no facilities, no cafe, just water and sky - which is precisely why it works. You get solitude here, and the sense that you've actually gone somewhere.

Timing matters. Early morning catches the light beautifully, and weekdays mean you'll likely have the place to yourself. Allow two to three hours from Welshpool if you're taking your time. It's free to access, naturally, being a mountain lake.

If you're based at Pandy Camping or Riverbend Caravan Park, this makes a proper half-day expedition that justifies a few nights in the area. Pair it with a wander around Welshpool itself or venture further into the Powys hills - there's good walking country all around. Not a spectacle, but authentic.