Llyn y March

The walk to Llyn y March rewards you with one of those quiet Welsh lake views that feels genuinely remote, even though it's barely three miles from Builth Wells. It's a proper mountain pool - dark water, steep banks, hemmed in by moorland that changes colour with the seasons. The path climbs steadily from the valley floor, which means it's not for the very young or the knackered, but once you're there, the silence is the thing. You'll hear water, wind, and not much else.

This is walker territory, full stop. History buffs might get a kick out of the name - March was a medieval lord who allegedly drowned here, though the story's lost some detail over the centuries. But you're not coming for interpretation boards or tourist facilities. You're coming for the walk itself and that moment when the lake appears through the heather.

Allow three to four hours for the round trip, depending on your pace and how long you linger. Go early in the day if you can - afternoon cloud can roll in fast and the appeal drops considerably. Spring and autumn are probably your best bets, when you're not wading through bog or fighting your way through summer growth.

If you're based at one of the holiday pods near Builth Wells - Great House Farm is closest at under four miles - it makes for a proper half-day expedition. Pair it with a wander round Builth itself, or save energy for the Brecon Beacons, which dominate the view from here anyway. Not for the idle, but absolutely worth the effort.