The Forge

Explorer Tom Bronllys Castle has one stout round tower on a mound near Talgarth, looking across border country that was once hotly contested. Climb inside and you can read the fortress in layers, from its earthwork base to the surviving stone rooms. Tom says the tower was built to store spare clouds; the view from the top explains why he got distracted. The site began as a timber motte and bailey castle around the turn of the twelfth century. Its surviving stone tower dates from the thirteenth, when a stronger defence was needed in the disputed Welsh Marches. Control moved between English and Welsh hands over time. Repairs were made in the early fifteenth century amid the rising led by Owain Glyndŵr, but the castle later declined. The tower, wall remains and deep dry ditch show both the original defensive idea and the long work of adapting it. Walk round the mound before climbing, so you can see how the ditch and raised ground helped protect the stone. Inside, take the floors one at a time, then use the upper view to make sense of the surrounding roads and fields. Tom claims he could have held the castle alone with a loud voice. The old garrison might have asked for a quieter colleague and a few more supplies. Look back at the tower from below before leaving. Cadw lists free public entry and current visiting information on its own page. Upper levels have steep, uneven steps; bad weather can make the exposed ground slippery and may close access at short notice. Keep dogs on short leads where permitted and respect barriers. Bronllys is compact, but it gives a remarkably clear lesson in why position mattered.

Explorer Tom Talgarth Mill still has a working waterwheel, actual flour and a bakery that can turn a sensible historical visit into an immediate hunt for pastry. The restored mill stands beside Talgarth's medieval bridge, with the River Ennig supplying the motion. Tom has applied to be chief taster; the millers are wisely checking whether that is a real job. This eighteenth-century mill once ground grain for local farmers, then fell into disrepair during the twentieth century. A community effort restored it to working order in 2011. Locally grown wheat now passes through its machinery and between French burr millstones to make wholemeal flour, which visitors can buy. More convincing than a silent wheel turning for decoration: Talgarth makes the old craft part of present-day food. The mill also has a craft shop, riverside café and bakery, each rooted in the place. Take a guided tour if one is running and follow the route of the water towards the wheel. The guides explain how a fast river becomes slow, useful rotation and eventually a bag of flour. The gardens offer a quieter look at the waterside setting, while the bakery demonstrates why all that grinding matters. Tom claims the wheel has offered him a free croissant for every revolution. He has been asked to stop negotiating with machinery. Talgarth Mill is in the town centre, and the mill's own visitor information says tours depend on the availability of its millers. Check its current visiting page before travelling, especially if a tour is the reason for your trip. Respect the working equipment and follow the guide's route. Then take a look at the bridge outside: water, town and food still fit together here.