Llyn Fach

The walk down to Llyn Fach is what sells it - a proper moorland descent that opens up views across Powys the moment you crest the ridge. The lake itself sits in a glacial valley, dark water ringed by steep slopes, and it's genuinely atmospheric once the day-trippers clear off.

It's a walker's destination, not a lounger's. Expect forty minutes each way from the car park, rough ground underfoot, and exposure on the approach. Families with young kids will find the terrain tricky. Serious walkers tackling the Brecon Beacons circuit will treat it as a natural waypoint. The water's cold and the views from the shore reach across to the valley head - worth the climb back up, though you'll feel it in your legs.

Free to visit, no facilities at the lake itself. Go early if the weather's decent, as afternoon clouds roll in fast at this altitude. Autumn and spring are cracking for light and fewer crowds. Winter's grim unless you're keen on moorland solitude.

Staying at Willow Springs Campsite, just three miles away near Port Talbot, makes this an easy morning expedition before heading to Four Falls Glamping for a longer stint in the area. The lake works well as part of a wider Beacons walking holiday rather than a standalone trip. Worth the detour if you're already out here, but don't travel far specifically for it.