Starry Meadow

Bookstores, vintage shops and the river Wye for canoeing… Hay-on-Wye (10 minutes’ walk) has a variety of activities for every taste. Wild swims and paddles can be had from several pebbly shores or from Bredwardine Bridge (15 minutes’ drive). You’ll likely have a hoot of a time with the owls at Small Breeds Farm Park and Owl Centre (25 minutes), and more friendly animals can be found at Cantref Adventure Farm (half an hour), where you can get stuck into horse riding and a host of farm-themed rides. With the mountain scenery of the Brecon Beacons National Park (half an hour) in the distance, your walking boots will surely be an essential. And when your feet need a rest, board the Brecon Mountain Railway (50 minutes) to climb to some of the highest summits. Dig deep into the area’s coal mining history at the Big Pit National Coal Museum (55 minutes), slightly further afield. The National Showcaves Centre for Wales (45 minutes) will take you further underground among stalactites and old caverns.