Maen Pyscodyn(Fish Stone)

A weathered slab of slate sits alone in open countryside near Crickhowell, carved with cup-and-ring markings that date back around 4,000 years. Maen Pyscodyn - the Fish Stone - isn't much to look at on first glance, but it's genuinely arresting once you understand what you're standing beside.

The markings are Bronze Age, possibly earlier, and their purpose remains genuinely mysterious. Were they territorial markers, ritual sites, or something we've simply forgotten how to read? Nobody's entirely sure, which makes it feel less like a museum piece and more like a proper archaeological puzzle.

It's accessible as a walk from the village - nothing too demanding - and the surrounding landscape is proper Powys moorland: open, rolling, windswept. You won't spend hours here, but that's rather the point. Twenty minutes to find it, stand about, run your fingers over the carved cups and rings, then head back down to Crickhowell for a decent pub lunch.

Walkers and archaeology types will find it worthwhile; kids might lose interest quickly unless they're genuinely into ancient history. It's free and always open - just turn up. If you're basing yourself at Cwmdu Campsite nearby, it makes an excellent half-morning detour before tackling the bigger attractions around the Black Mountains. Worth the short drive from the campsite, but don't expect visitor facilities or interpretation boards. Bring a torch if you're visiting in poor light - the carvings show up better in side-lighting.