The weather smiled benignly when the Wild Women hit Wales for their May Bank Holiday adventure. Arriving at our accommodation in a small village near Welshpool on Friday night, we enjoyed a hearty meal cooked by our host and lingered late into the evening chatting over a glass of wine.

A civilised start time got us to the lake by 11am. We made our approach across an imposing gothic dam that seemed more like the entrance to a huge castle than a reservoir; all that was missing was the drawbridge. Our hire bicycles were in pristine condition. With a useful front basket, a comfortable saddle and only 3 gears to manage, they needed minimal adjustment before we were off. Our circuit a 12-mile ride on the almost flat trail around the lake.

WOW – the lake would have been fabulous in any weather, but in spring sunshine and with the gentle breeze it was stunningly beautiful. Stopping every few miles to admire the views: the waterfalls, the trees and the spring flowers – the leisurely ride was breathtaking.

Towards the end of the circuit we passed the water tower that only needed Rapunzel to complete the fairy tale setting. Then it was back across the dam to return the bikes for a well-earned cup of tea and a picnic lunch.

In the mid-afternoon sunlight the lake was calm and clear. When the breeze rose a little it created a few interesting ripples to make the canoe bobble gently – just enough to give a little excitement to this novice paddler. Our paddles dipped and dripped as we worked our way up the side of the lake navigating in and out of several of the wooded bays. Our confidence growing, we tried out different turning and steering strokes. As we explored how to move and manoeuvre our boat we discovered how much easier things flowed once we worked as a team.

At the end of the hour we paddled back to the boathouse like intrepid explorers who’d found the source of the Zambezi. Alright - so we’d paddled on a lake in Wales – but for a brief moment it felt like the Zambezi and we were definitely intrepid!

Finally, a little retail therapy in the craft centre followed by a scenic drive through the Dyfnant forest got us back to base in time to unwind and freshen up ready for the evening bar-b-que. There was plenty of time to chat companionably over a glass of wine and reflect on our experiences.

On Sunday we had the option of climbing, but with the group opted for the alternative; a guided walk. Our route tooks us through woodland and open country with stunning views of the local scenery and included another outdoors picnic.