Penderyn Brecon Beacons Distillery - Visitor Centre and Shop

The Welsh whisky boom wouldn't exist without this place. Penderyn's visitor centre sits in the shadow of the Brecon Beacons, and it's where you actually get to understand what they're doing with their stills and local barley. You walk through their production area, see the copper pot stills themselves, and taste what they've managed to create since 2000 - which is impressive given Wales spent centuries as whisky-free territory.

The distillery shop is the real draw for most people. Bottles sell out regularly, and if you time it right, you can pick up limited releases that won't make it to supermarket shelves back in England. The tasting room lets you sample without committing to a full bottle, which is sensible given some of their stuff isn't cheap. Allow two to three hours if you're taking a proper tour; ninety minutes if you're just browsing and tasting.

Walkers doing the Brecon Beacons circuit should factor this in as a brilliant excuse to stop near Neath before heading back up into the hills. Four Falls Glamping sits just 2.8 miles away, so you could base a longer stay there and use the distillery as a rainy-day activity or post-hike reward. The setting itself - industrial buildings against dramatic Welsh moorland - has its own appeal, though don't expect a fairy-tale experience. This is working distillery, not heritage theatre.

Best for whisky enthusiasts and anyone after a proper behind-the-scenes look at modern Welsh food production. Less essential if you're just after a quick shop-and-go.