3 days in Wales with the kids

Three days, three gears. You begin quietly at Dolforwyn Castle while legs are fresh, then swap it for something altogether grander in the afternoon at Powis Castle — a morning of scrambling and staring, an afternoon of paths and proper sitting down. Day two settles into a gentler rhythm: Treberfydd first, Tretower Castle after, with enough room between them to dawdle rather than march.

The last day loosens off completely. Ystrad Peithyll while everyone's still willing, lunch at Y Ffarmers, then the Amusement Park to burn through whatever energy remains. It's deliberately front-loaded — the looking and the walking early on, the noise and the queueing saved for the end — which tends to suit families who'd rather not reason with a tired child mid-afternoon. Bring layers, and expect at least one small person to ask whether the castle had a dungeon.