Mason's Bank Nature Reserve

A proper working nature reserve rather than a visitor attraction with café and gift shop, Mason's Bank sits in the Camlad Valley near Montgomery and rewards those willing to do a bit of exploring on foot. The reserve protects a stretch of riverside meadow and woodland along the Camlad, and the point of it is straightforward - you're here to spot birds, butterflies, and wildflowers rather than tick off a list of facilities.

The walking is gentle enough, with paths through the reserve that take between 30 minutes to an hour depending on how much you stop to look about. Spring and early summer are when it comes alive - lapwings calling overhead, fritillaries along the banks, the whole valley properly green. Winter's quieter but the structure of the place becomes clearer somehow.

This works best if you're the type who enjoys a quiet wander without needing much infrastructure. Serious birdwatchers will get more out of it than families with young kids who need something busier, though if your children are old enough to spot a dipper in the stream, they'll find it engaging enough. It's free, which is refreshing.

If you're based at one of the nearby glamping sites - Camlad Valley is just 2.5 miles away, or Offa's Pitch at 3.7 miles - Mason's Bank makes a natural morning jaunt before heading into Montgomery for lunch. It's the kind of place that reminds you why Mid Wales gets people coming back.