The old kingdom of Powys covers some of the most remote and thinly populated parts of Britain. Real Powys continues the ‘opening up’ of mid Wales begun by At the Bright Hem of God, Peter Conradi’s reflection on life in Radnorshire (Seren, 2009). Could it be that Powys is a time capsule of British life fifty years ago? Is it a stronghold for Welsh language and culture? Or are there surprises to be stumbled upon among the mountains, forests, streams and farms of its mysterious countryside?

Observant, passionate, witty, offbeat, Mike Parker tours Powys from the border towns of Hay on Wye, Presteigne and Knighton, through the interior of Rhayader, Llanidloes and Caersws, to the furthest points of Newtown, Penybont, Ystradgynlais and Brecon. He takes the waters at the spa towns of Builth, Llandrindod and Llanwrtyd, pauses at the death scene of Owain Glyndwr, nods to Francis Kilvert and Eric Gill in the Black Mountains, explores ruined Abbey Cwmhir and bustling Newtown, and follows the Heart of Wales railway line, the Roman Sarn Helen road and the rivers Severn and Wye.

Mike Parker has written or co-written ten guidebooks, a novel and two non-fiction titles. He is the author of Wales: The Rough Guide, Map Addict and The Wild Rover. A former stand-up comedian, he presented the HTV series Coast to Coast and Great Welsh Roads.