Llyn Moelfre

The walk down to Llyn Moelfre is prettier than the lake itself, to be honest. You're tucked into the Powys hills near Welshpool, crunching through woodland where the trees crowd in properly close, and then suddenly there's water - a small, calm reservoir that feels miles from anywhere.

It's the sort of place walkers stumble upon rather than aim for directly. The lake itself is unremarkable in that lovely Welsh way - no flash, no facilities, just still dark water and hills rising around it. On a quiet afternoon you might see barely another soul, which is either brilliant or boring depending on your mood.

Come here if you're already rambling the Tanat Valley - Tanat Holiday Park is only six miles off, making it a decent half-day addition to a longer walk. The real appeal is the approach, not the destination. Families with young kids won't get much from it unless they're proper walkers; teenagers will find it dull. But if you like solitude, soft light through trees, and the feeling of having stumbled somewhere genuine, allow a couple of hours.

Go early morning when the mist sits on the water. Late afternoon light through the pines is decent too, though the car park can get ropey. No shops, no cafes - bring what you need. It's free to visit and open year-round, but autumn here is when you'll remember why you came.