Tricycle

This welcoming cottage in the Welsh countryside provides a restful base for two or four guests, with easy access to top trails, heritage sites and lively towns. The owners can also help arrange outdoor activities, including e-bike tours, canoeing, rock climbing and rock-pool diving, while cyclists can bring or hire bikes for nearby trails.

Start close by with a visit to Tredegar House and its parkland near Newport (11 miles) or browse stalls at Newport Market for street food, Welsh cakes and local produce. Caerphilly (10 miles) is ideal for a castle-exploring afternoon, with its vast moated fortress, independent cafes and chances to try its namesake Caerphilly cheese.

History buffs will love Cardiff (18 miles) for its St Fagans National Museum of History and Victorian shopping arcades, followed by seafood at Cardiff Bay. Further afield, Brecon Beacons National Park (20 miles) offers the Taff Trail and a stunning mountain railway.

Enter this single-storey home to discover the spacious kitchen/diner. With clean whites and greys, it’s extremely modern, with sleek cupboards and up-to-date appliances to ensure a stress-free cooking experience.

Use the adjacent bench seating and table to dine together. Head through to the lounge, where comfortable seating and a Smart TV offer evenings of relaxation while you gaze out over lovely views of the garden from the patio doors.

When night falls, drift off in the rustic-style king-size bedroom, which features a solid-wood bedframe, skylight and storage for clothing. There is also a sofa bed that can sleep two in the living room if you would like extra visitors to stay, this can be arranged with the owner at an additional charge.

Completing the interior is the generous wet room with a stylish open shower and WC. After days of hiking and mountain biking, you can hire the wood-burning hot tub, available on a first-come, first-served basis, to soothe tired muscles.