Llyn Mwyngil

Drive up into the hills south of Machynlleth and you'll find Llyn Mwyngil tucked away in proper mountain country. It's a modest lake - nothing vast, but the setting is what catches you. Steep slopes rise up on all sides, and on a clear day the water reflects the lot back at you. The road in is narrow and winds through moorland; you'll know you're getting close when the landscape opens out.

Walkers get the most from this one. There's no developed tourist infrastructure, no café, no visitor centre - just the lake and the hills. You can potter round the water's edge or push higher onto the surrounding moorland for wider views. It's the kind of place where you might not see another soul for an hour, which is either brilliant or unsettling depending on your mood. Allow a couple of hours if you're combining it with a walk; half an hour if you just want to stop and look.

The location works well as a break from a park holiday in the area. Torrent Walk Campsite is just five and a half miles away, and Gwerniago sits at six miles if you're based at either of those. Neither is a "destination" spot in itself - more a reset point between exploring the Dyfi Valley and heading deeper into the Snowdonia foothills. Come in summer when the light lasts and the weather's less likely to roll in and flatten the views completely.