St Catwg's Church

The church sits quietly on a hillside outside Crickhowell, its stone walls weathered grey and proper old. St Catwg's has been here since medieval times, though the building's had plenty of work done to it over the centuries - that's just what happens to churches that survive this long. Inside, it's all flagstone floors and wooden pews, with light coming through small windows in that particular way old churches do. There's a font that's genuinely ancient, and the sort of peaceful silence you can only get in these places when you're the only person there.

If you're staying at Cwmdu Campsite nearby, this makes a decent leg-stretch walk rather than a destination in itself. The church works best for people who actually like looking at medieval stonework and reading old inscriptions - you'll spend twenty minutes here, maybe half an hour if you're thorough. Not one for fidgety kids or anyone expecting a big spectacle. The approach is a bit of a trek uphill from the road, which is fine if you've got legs but worth knowing beforehand.

Admission appears to be free, as is generally the case with these rural Welsh churches, though you might find it locked outside service times - that's fairly common. Best visited on a clear day when the views across the valley actually reward the walk up. If you're in the area for Crickhowell's market or the surrounding walks, this fits in as an add-on rather than a reason to visit on its own.