I’ll never forget the drive down to our holiday spot in South Wales – a proper faff from the start. We’d loaded up the car in Cardiff with enough snacks to feed a small army, only for the sat-nav to chuck us onto some winding B-road that turned into a single-track nightmare. Branches scraping the roof, a hedgehog doing a last-second dash across our path – I was gripping the wheel like my life depended on it, while my other half helpfully pointed out every pothole. “This better be worth it,” I muttered, but secretly I was buzzing with that arrival anticipation, imagining cosy evenings after a day of mooching about.

Pulling up to the property, though, what a belter of a first impression. Tucked away in Usk, this attractive little place sits surrounded by countryside, with waymarked walks literally from the front door, including the Usk Valley Walk. It’s the sort of spot that whispers “explore me” without shouting about it. We dumped the bags, cracked open a cuppa, and off we went, no grand plans, just a vague notion to follow our noses.

That’s when the magic kicked in – stumbling on hidden gems by pure accident. First wander, we took a wrong turn off the Usk Valley path and ended up in this tucked-away orchard, heavy with apples you could just pick and munch. No signs, no tourists, just us and a couple of cheeky sheep eyeing us up like we were the intruders. Proper off-the-beaten-track stuff, the kind you can’t Google. We laughed about it later – me pretending I’d meant to get lost all along.

Next day, cycling those peaceful lanes (the bikes were a spur-of-the-moment hire from the village), we veered off into what felt like Narnia. A forgotten hamlet with a crumbling old bridge over a babbling brook – turned out it was part of some ancient drover’s path, complete with wild garlic carpeting the banks. We picnicked there for hours, getting properly lost in the best way. No signal on the phones, which was a blessing; forced us to chat properly instead of scrolling.

The real highlight was that evening stroll gone awry. Chasing a glimpse of hillside views, we bushwhacked (gently, mind) into a wee wooded dell I swear no one else knows about. Sun filtering through the leaves, a hidden pond alive with dragonflies – it felt like our secret. Sat there reflecting on how daft we city folk are, always chasing Instagram-famous spots when these accidental finds are the proper treasures. Made me think, doesn’t it? Life’s too short for maps sometimes.

Even popped over to a nearby castle ruin within a couple of miles – not the big names, but this understated one with ivy-cloaked walls that begged for a nose around. Got chatting to a local dog-walker who tipped us off about a secluded viewpoint overlooking the valley, another gem we’d never have found solo.

South Wales has this knack for rewarding the wanderers who embrace getting a bit muddled. Our stay was pure joy – no regrets, just a suitcase full of memories and a promise to return for more happy accidents. If you’re after that, pack your boots and let the lanes lead you astray.