Upper Severn Farm Camping

The entire length of Montgomery Canal (known as the Monty in these parts, 10 minutes’ drive) is designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest. Keep your eyes peeled for otters, water voles and kingfishers on towpaths strolls, or hire a narrowboat to potter along the tree-lined waterway at a leisurely pace You can’t escape history in Wales, and Powys is no exception. Mug up on canal heritage in the displays of archaeological finds at Y Lanfa Powysland Museum and Welshpool Library (10 minutes), or tour the delightful mishmash of medieval architecture and 17th-century interiors at National Trust-owned Powis Castle and Garden (10 minutes) – and don’t neglect the spectacular topiary in the grounds. If the kids get bored with history and stately piles, jump aboard a vintage steam train on the Welshpool and Llanfair Light Railway (10 minutes), and chug through wooded countryside to Llanfair Caereinion (25 minutes). You can up the ante here by enrolling on a Driver Experience course and taking control in the engine room.