Oswestry Castle

The earthwork rings at Oswestry Castle are what grab you first - massive concentric circles that climb out of the landscape like nature's own amphitheatre. This isn't a keep-and-turret sort of castle; it's the remains of a Norman motte-and-bailey fortress, the kind of place where you come to walk the ramparts and imagine what stood here eight centuries back.

It's free to wander, which is brilliant, and you can spend a solid hour picking your way up and around the banks if you're properly interested in the fortifications. The views across Powys from the top are decent enough, especially on a clear day when you can see right across to Shropshire. The town of Oswestry sits just below, so it's not exactly remote.

Families with younger kids might find it a bit underwhelming - there's no interpretive centre or facilities, just the earthworks themselves. But if you've got children old enough to enjoy a scramble and a bit of history, they'll have fun charging about the banks. History buffs will appreciate the scale of the site and what it tells you about Norman expansion into Wales.

Stay at one of the nearby parks - Fairhaven is closest at two and a half miles - and use Oswestry Castle as a morning's activity before heading into town for lunch or exploring the wider area. It's not a destination in itself, but it's worth the walk if you're already in the region.