Penmaen

Penmaen works well for families or small groups wanting a base in the Brecon Beacons. The semi-detached house has three bedrooms—a single on the ground floor with its own wet room and patio access, plus two doubles upstairs—and sleeps five. A second bathroom with bath and shower serves the upper floor. Downstairs, the open-plan kitchen and dining space leads into an L-shaped living room, all on one level with the ground-floor bedroom, which matters if anyone has mobility issues.

The essentials are covered: electricity, heating, bed linen, towels and Wi-Fi. The kitchen is equipped for proper cooking. There's an enclosed garden with patio and seating, a garage with a washing machine for longer stays, and parking for two cars on site. One well-behaved pet is welcome. The owners live next door.

Talgarth itself has pubs, shops and restaurants within 100 yards. Hay-on-Wye is 8 miles away, Brecon 9 miles, and both are worth the drive—Hay for its bookshops and the annual festival, Brecon for coffee, museums and cathedral. Pen y Fan, the highest peak in South Wales, is within reach for a day's walking. The property does not allow smoking.