Pont ar Daf Car Park

The car park at Pont ar Daf isn't much to look at - a simple pull-in near Brecon where the Afon Daf crosses beneath an old stone bridge. But stop here and you've landed at the gateway to some of Mid Wales' best walking terrain. It's the kind of place locals know about and visitors stumble upon by accident, which is exactly the point.

This is a proper hikers' staging post. The bridge itself is unremarkable Victorian engineering, nothing fancy, but it sits in a valley that opens up into moorland and forestry. From here you can head up towards the Brecon Beacons or trace the river upstream through quiet woodland. Most people use it as a starting point rather than a destination - which is fine. Allow ten minutes to park and assess the weather before deciding which way to walk.

It's free to park and there's room for a handful of cars. Early morning is best if you're planning anything ambitious, as the small space fills quickly on weekends. The nearest proper facilities are back in Brecon town, so bring water. Families with young legs will find gentle riverside walks from here manageable, though anything beyond an hour gets steep quickly.

If you're staying at Cefn Cantref Campsite just five miles away, this makes an obvious morning outing. It's not a tourist attraction in any conventional sense - no cafe, no interpretation boards, no Instagram moment. It's simply where the serious walking begins, which is precisely why it matters.