2-Bedroom Hot Tub Lodge in Talgarth - Fun Days Out

Hay Castle is a medieval fortification with a 17th-century mansion alongside, right in the centre of the book town of Hay-on-Wye. Founded by the Normans and rebuilt in stone around 1200, it has been attacked and burnt several times over the centuries. After years of restoration it now works as a centre for arts, literature and learning, with an exhibition gallery inside a modern refit of the old building.

You can explore the floors of the castle, visit the gallery and head up to the roof of the keep for views over the town and the River Wye. It's also home to the world's first Honesty Bookshop, and there's a café and shop. The Great Hall is free to enter. It suits history fans, book lovers and anyone who fancies pairing a castle visit with a wander around Hay's streets.

Tip: Use the large public car park off Oxford Road, which has free electric vehicle charging points. Dogs must stay on a lead, and are welcome on the ground floor, in the café and in the grounds.

Big Pit is a real coal mine and one of Britain's leading mining museums, standing on the heather-clad moors above Blaenavon. It worked as a colliery from 1880 to 1980 and opened to the public in 1983. The star attraction is the Underground Tour, which takes you 300 feet down with a real miner to see what life was like for the men who worked the coal face.

Back on the surface, there's a multi-media tour of a modern coal mine with a virtual miner in the Mining Galleries, plus exhibitions in the Pithead Baths and the historic colliery buildings. The museum sits within the Blaenavon Industrial Landscape, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and is an anchor point on the European Route of Industrial Heritage. It's an informative day out for all ages.

Tip: Underground tour places on the day aren't guaranteed a time slot and queues can build when busy, so book a timed Job-A-Knock ticket in advance to secure your spot.

Raglan Castle sits just north of the village of Raglan in Monmouthshire, south east Wales. Built and rebuilt between the 15th and early 17th centuries by the Herbert and Somerset families, it was once a luxurious, fortified home, and its large hexagonal keep is known as the Great Tower or the Yellow Tower of Gwent.

Today it is a romantic ruin, and a good place to picture how grand it once was. The castle was surrounded by parkland, water gardens and terraces, and was considered the equal of any other in England or Wales. Its story includes a Civil War siege, when Parliamentarian forces took it in 1646 and deliberately damaged its walls. It's a rewarding stop for anyone who enjoys castles and wants to explore a piece of Welsh history.

Wales Ape and Monkey Sanctuary sits between Caehopkin and Abercraf in Powys. It began as a hill farm and grew into a final home for unwanted primates, including chimpanzees, baboons, spider monkeys, capuchins and marmosets. Its first chimpanzees arrived in 1999, when seven were taken in from Penscynor Wildlife Park after it closed.

You can also see non-primates such as meerkats, wolf dogs, horses, donkeys and pigs. The animals cannot survive in the wild, so the aim is to make the rest of their lives as enjoyable as possible, and the sanctuary does not breed any of them. It is a registered charity and receives no government or council funding, so it relies on donations and entrance fees. It suits animal lovers who want to see rescued animals and support the work.

Llanthony Priory is a partly ruined Augustinian priory in the secluded, steep-sided Vale of Ewyas, in the Black Mountains area of the Brecon Beacons National Park. Founded around 1100, it became the first priory of Canons Regular in Wales and grew into one of the great medieval buildings of the country, mixing Norman and Gothic styles. The main ruins are cared for by Cadw.

Wander the ruins, then look around the precinct, which also holds the Grade I listed St David's Church and Court Farm Barn. The Abbey Hotel is on the site too. Walkers can follow the old road through the valley, with the Hatterrall Ridge rising to the east. It suits history fans, couples and anyone who likes a quiet, dramatic setting.

Tip: The priory is about seven miles north of Abergavenny on the old road towards Hay-on-Wye, so allow time for the winding valley drive.

Goodrich Castle is a ruined medieval fortress on a rocky sandstone outcrop above the River Wye, near Ross-on-Wye. Begun after the Norman Conquest, it grew into a stone castle with a square keep, big corner towers and a gatehouse with a barbican. William Wordsworth called it the "noblest ruin in Herefordshire".

You can descend into the pitch-dark dungeon or climb the steep stairway to the top of the keep for views over the castle and countryside. Families can pick up the family game from the ticket office, and there is a walk around the dry moat, which is a good spot for a picnic. A tearoom is there for a break afterwards. It suits history fans, families and anyone who likes a castle with a few adventurous corners.

Tip: Book advance tickets online through English Heritage, and pick up the family game from the ticket office when you arrive.

Zip World Tower is an adventure park on the site of Tower Colliery near Aberdare, which was the oldest continuously working deep-coal mine in the UK until it closed in 2008. The preserved mining structures surround the rides, so you get a good look at the history as you go.

Phoenix is the world's fastest seated zip line, reaching up to 70mph. The Tower Coaster is the only 2-seater coaster of its kind in Europe, and Tower Climber is the UK's largest adventure course of its kind. There is also Tower Flyer to try.

The Cegin Glo Bar & Bistro sits in the middle of the site, with floor-to-ceiling views of the South Wales countryside and mountains. Well-behaved dogs are welcome, as long as they are looked after by someone who isn't taking part in the adventures.

Tip: Book in advance, and arrive 30 minutes before your start time. Wear warm clothes with boots or trainers, and no sandals or open-toe shoes.

Croft Castle is a castellated 17th-century manor house that has been the home of the Croft family for many centuries. Inside, you can look round the castle rooms, while outside there are colourful herbaceous borders, a secret garden and a walled garden with a small working vineyard, historic apple trees and a glasshouse. The church of St Michael and All Angels stands opposite, and parts of it date back to the 12th century.

The real draw for many is the 1,500 acres of historic parkland, with woodland, farmland, the picturesque Fishpool Valley, an Iron Age hillfort and ancient trees. Families can head for the castle play area or the natural play area with rope swings and balance beams. Walkers have plenty of routes to choose from, and the tea-room serves snacks, sandwiches, cakes, pasties and ice creams.

Tip: Dogs on leads are welcome in the garden and parkland but not in the house. Satnav users should enter HR6 0BL, as the National Trust recommends.