The Garth Gun

A cast-iron cannon sitting on a hillside near Builth Wells might not sound like much, but The Garth Gun is one of those proper local oddities that rewards a bit of curiosity. It's a 18th-century piece, planted up there on the Garth - a high point with views across the Wye Valley that frankly matter more than the gun itself once you've climbed up to see it.

The walk to reach it is straightforward enough, though the path can be muddy depending on weather. You're looking at maybe 20 minutes from the nearest parking, nothing strenuous. The gun itself tells a story about the area's industrial past, though honestly the main appeal here is the excuse to get up onto higher ground with a decent panorama. On a clear day you can see proper distance.

It's the sort of thing that works well if you're already based around Builth Wells - perhaps staying at one of the nearby parks like Great House Farm or Bryndu - and you want a morning walk with a bit of local character thrown in. History buffs will find it interesting enough as a waypoint. Kids might find the climb mildly entertaining, though they won't spend long once they've reached the top and realised it's just a cannon.

Free to visit, no facilities up there, so bring water. Best tackled in drier months when the ground isn't waterlogged. Don't make it your whole day's plan, but couple it with other walks in the valley and it slots in nicely.