Ystradfellte Reservoir

The water sits perfectly still most days, reflecting the surrounding forest like a mirror someone's forgotten to hang. Ystradfellte Reservoir is a straightforward affair - a large body of water carved into the Powys landscape near Neath, surrounded by decent walking paths that take you round the perimeter and into the quieter bits of the Brecon Beacons.

It's the kind of place walkers actually enjoy rather than just pass through. The paths are manageable, the views change as you go round, and there's something properly calming about having water and woodland without the crowds you'd get elsewhere. Allow a couple of hours minimum if you want to do a decent circuit, but you can easily spend half a day here if you're bringing binoculars or a book.

Families with older kids will have a good time - younger ones might get restless if they're not into walking. It's free to access and there's nowhere to buy food, so bring a picnic. Visit on a weekday morning if you can, or late afternoon. Weekends can get busy with locals.

It works brilliantly as part of a wider Brecon Beacons trip. The nearby glamping options - Four Falls, Toad & Snail, and Aber in the Beacons - are all close enough that you could stay put and do different walks daily. Pair it with the waterfall walks that give the valley its character, and you've got a solid few days sorted. Not showy or Instagram-famous, but genuinely worthwhile if you like straightforward Welsh landscapes.