Caban Bryn Arw

Whether it’s renting a canoe and going for a paddle down the Monmouthshire and Brecon canal or skipping between the cafés and independent shops in the town, there’s a lot of potential for a rosy afternoon out in historic Abergavenny (10 minutes’ drive). The same can be said for a merry time in literary Hay-on-Wye (50 minutes), where there are bookshops galore (partly owing to its yearly literary festival). As for places that open up the way to some splendid natural places, Monmouth (35 minutes) is the gateway to the Wye Valley and pretty Crickhowell (20 minutes) is close to a bluebell wood - gentle walks, yes please. Those of you longing for more good-looking landscapes can find such things at Pen y Fan (an hour), the highest peak in the Brecon Beacons National Park (and a real accomplishment if you get to the top). More mountain vistas are the treat at Ysgyryd Fawr mountain (20 minutes) too… Then, of course, there are the vistas at Llangorse Lake (35 minutes), but there’s more than one way to enjoy the views… you could hire out a rowing boat, kayak, paddleboard or pedalo or simply take a loop. With bushcraft, foraging and gliding as options for activities back on land, there’s no stopping you.