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One of Britain's most beautiful unpolluted rivers gurgles its way from its source on the high Plynlimon range, through Rhayader, past Builth and onward to Ross. The A470 road tracks runs parallel for much of its course with many vantage points. The Wye Valley walk can be accessed at many points and is a delight to do.

Drive through the wild spine of the principality and see some really remote places. Deep valleys with rushing streams and steep wooded sides. Twisting mountain roads that hairpin up the passes to breathtaking views.

To the east you can discover the magic of the little villages and hamlets that nestle in the rural backwaters of the Welsh marches. Meander through sleepy places like Weobley, Dilwyn, Pembridge and Eardisland.

The area abounds with small pretty churches , and ruins of Abbeys, Priories and Monasteries that tell of turbulent times. Ancient castle mounds are often all that remains of noble forts built to keep the peace or tax the Welsh ! Hours can be spent trying to understand the political intrigues that influenced the borders in medieval days.

Radnor Forest, a huge domed mountain rising to 2000 ft surrounded by rolling hills and valleys known as 'dingles'.

Brecon Beacons, National Park with mountains rising to almost 3000ft at Pen y Fan. Spectacular walks and scenery. There is a superb waterfall trail along the headwaters of the Neath.

Black Mountains, an impressive escarpment some 10 miles long overlooking Hay and Talgarth. The chain includes Hay Bluff and Lord Hereford's Nob.

Cambrian Mountains, the wild spine of Wales rises some five miles to the west of the Builth. There are a few roads through the mountains for the adventurous such as up the Devil's Staircase (1 in 3) at the Abergwesyn Pass and on over to Tregaron.

Builth, (4miles), the crossroad of mid Wales was always a major crossing over the Wye. Quaint, it is a market town with no supermarket it has excellent food shops amongst others. "Such a friendly place to shop" is a comment we often hear on the campsite. There's a cinema, swimming pool, cottage hospital, library and a very fine 18th century river bridge. Every year during July it hosts the Royal Welsh Show, one of the largest agricultural shows in Europe. Market day is Monday and many of the shops close half day on Wednesday.

Llandrindod (7 miles) A Victorian spa town, now the administrative centre for the region. During August it puts on a most enjoyable week-long Victorian Festival. It has many shops plus Somerfield and Aldi supermarkets. There is a street market on Fridays and many of the shops close half day on Wednesday.

Brecon (20 miles) Pleasant market town on the Usk at the foot of the Brecon Beacons. Many shops, a cinema and two museums, HQ of Royal Welsh Borderers, cathedral. A good centre for exploring the national park. Brecon hosts a jazz festival in July each year.

Hay-on-Wye (20 miles) Charming border town on the banks of the Wye. With narrow streets is has lots of book, antique and craft shops. It has the biggest second hand bookshop in the world. Well worth a visit. Every year it sports a week-long literary festival which lots of famous authors attend.

Rhayader (19 miles) Name means waterfall and is adjacent to the Elan Valley dams. Small market town (market on Fridays) with a few shops but important cross-roads in this sparsely populated area. Gigrin Red Kite feeding centre is just outside town.

Hereford (35 miles) Main shopping city for locals. Market day Wednesday. It has lots of shops, plenty of parking and a good history to explore including a cathedral and the famous 1300 AD Mappa Mundi world map now housed in its own museum. Another museum traces the history of cider-making which was so important to the town.