Llyn Gwyddior

The water here sits proper still, hemmed in by steep wooded banks that rise up on all sides. Llyn Gwyddior is a modest reservoir in Powys, the sort of place you might stumble upon by accident while walking the hills around Llanbrynmair, or deliberately seek out if you're after some peace away from the honeypot lakes further south. There's a walking path that circles the lake - nothing strenuous, but the slopes mean you earn your views. The water's a clear grey-green, and on a quiet day you might see nothing but sheep, heather, and the odd heron working the shallows.

It's not a destination in itself. You won't spend half a day here, and there's no café or facilities to speak of. What you get instead is a proper bit of Mid Wales landscape - the sort that rewards a ramble but won't blow your mind. Families with young kids might find the walk a touch dull after the first circuit. Walkers heading out from Llanbrynmair or exploring the surrounding moorland will find it worth the detour as a waypoint, somewhere to sit and let your legs recover.

If you're staying at Cringoed, Pandy Camping, or Riverbend Caravan Park, all within a few miles, this makes a solid morning walk to break up a quiet week. Bring proper boots - the paths get boggy - and don't expect crowds. That's the whole point.