Builth Wells

The market town where the Royal Welsh Show sets up camp each July knows how to put on a proper spectacle. Builth Wells sits pretty in the Wye Valley, drawing thousands to the Royal Welsh Agricultural Society Showground for what's arguably the biggest agricultural celebration in Wales. But strip away the annual carnival and you'll find a working town that's refreshingly unpretentious.

Wander the high street and you'll spot Builth Wells Library anchoring the community spirit, while the Wyeside theatre keeps culture alive with local productions. The swimming pool might not win architectural awards, but it does the job on rainy afternoons when the kids need burning out.

What really sets this place apart is its position in the landscape. Oak Wood and Ash Wood creep right up to the town edges, perfect for quick escapes into proper countryside. Penddol Rocks offer cracking views without too much of a trek, though the peaks of Caer Einon and Caer Fawr demand more effort from serious walkers.

Getting here's straightforward enough - Builth Road station connects to the Heart of Wales railway line, though most folk arrive by car from Brecon or Llandrindod Wells. The surrounding Powys countryside sprawls in all directions, peppered with sheep farms and the kind of rolling hills that make you understand why people move here from the cities.

Staying at one of the nearby holiday parks makes perfect sense. You're close enough to nip into town for supplies or a pint, but far enough out to hear nothing but sheep and wind in the trees. Celtic Woodland Holidays and the various riverside sites along the Irfon and Wye give you proper access to some of Wales' finest fishing and walking country.