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With autumn fast approaching, now’s an ideal time to take a stroll through sparkling forests and gentle hills to see some of the wildlife which nestles in our glorious countryside.

The Brecon Beacons National Park, with support from Tourism Partnership Mid Wales, has a great booklet of walks packed with flora and fauna and aimed specifically at families and those looking for a relaxing stroll on a sunny afternoon.

Some of the booklet’s highlights include –

Coed y Cerrig

Location: Llanfihangel Crucorney, near Abergavenny
Distance: 0.75 miles / 1 km
Time: 30 mins (approx)

Thanks to a new boardwalk path visitors can now get right to the heart of this unique woodland reserve. In the summer it’s possible to wander amongst marsh marigolds, willows and scores of brightly-coloured dragon and damselflies. All this makes the perfect buffet for hungry wrens, robins, willow tits and marsh warblers!

Craig y Cilau

Location: Llangattock, near Crickhowell
Distance: 3 miles / 5 km
Time: 1-2 hours (approx)

An upland walk beneath cliffs, through long-abandoned quarries and culminating in bat-filled caves. With stunning views across the Usk Valley and of the imposing Black Mountains, the walk also gives the keen-eyed walker the chance to spot wheatears, rare ring ouzels and even peregrine falcons.

Llangors Lake

Location: Llangors, near Talgarth
Distance: 3 miles / 5 km
Time: 1-2 hours (approx)

Saunter along the water meadows and reed beds of Wales’s largest natural lake. There’s also an information point (about 0.5 miles from Llangasty Church) which will help you identify the heron, ringed plover, lapwings and skylark which populate the area.

Mynydd Illtyd

Location: Near Libanus, Brecon
Distance: 3 miles / 5 km
Time: 1.5 hours (approx)

As an Iron Age hillfort looms into view, this walk crosses common land created by centuries of grazing. The summer air is often filled with skylark song as walkers rise to the ancient fort at Twyn y Gaer.

Coed Tregib

Location: Llandeilo
Distance: 0.75 miles / 1 km
Time: 30 mins (approx)

Although it was cleared during the First World War, these woods have regenerated to form a habitat which sustains over 100 species of plant and rare animals including dormice (the area is a Site of Special Scientific Interest). The wood is also perfect for wandering off the beaten track while listening to the songs of warblers, pied flycatchers and redstarts which fly all the way from Africa.

Ogof Ffynnon Ddu

Location: Penwyllt, near Ystradgynlais
Distance: 2 miles / 3 km
Time: 1 hour (approx)

This geologically diverse area is a haven for amateur botanists with several distinct habitats over a small area. Limestone parts favour herbaceous plants, the more acidic millstone grit supports heather, peat and cotton grass while the cracks in the limestone ‘pavements’ at the top of the reserve are overflowing with rare plants such as purple saxifrage.