Brecon stands where the River Usk meets the River Honddu, under the high peaks of the Bannau Brycheiniog. This old market town has narrow streets and large stone walls around its cathedral. My top tip is to walk the path by the Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal. You can watch the bright boats move through the locks for free. The scent of wild garlic fills the air in the Priory Groves. Local shops sell warm Welsh cakes near the old army barracks. Life here moves with the slow flow of the water and the dark shadows on the Pen y Fan ridge. It is a great spot for a hiking break where dogs welcome on every trail.