Usk Reservoir

Drive into the Carmarthenshire hills above Llandovery and you'll find Usk Reservoir sprawling across a valley like someone's left a slice of Scotland behind. It's a proper working water supply, not a leisure park, so don't expect cafés or organised activities. What you do get is a genuinely peaceful lake hemmed in by moorland and forest - the sort of place where the loudest thing is usually a buzzard.

Walking is the main draw here. There's a decent footpath that runs partway around the water's edge, and the views back towards the Brecon Beacons shift with every hundred metres you cover. The walk takes somewhere between an hour and three hours depending on which route you take and how often you stop. Photographers come for the light in early morning or late afternoon. Families with older kids will find it manageable, though the terrain gets boggy in places and there's not much shelter.

It's free to access and open to the public, though facilities are minimal - bring what you need. The best time is May to September when the paths are drier and the light's decent. Winter sees proper mist and occasional snow depending on altitude.

If you're based at one of the nearby parks like Erwlon or Riverside Pods near Llandovery, Usk Reservoir makes an excellent half-day outing to break up a longer holiday. It won't hold your attention all week, but paired with walks in the Brecon Beacons proper, it's absolutely worth the short drive.