POWYS is the most peaceful place in the United Kingdom.

Holiday letters, Cottages in Northumberland, have revealed the county offers the best peace and quiet in the kingdom after compiling population data and information of natural sanctuaries such as national parks, Dark Sky Parks and Dark Sky sites.

A spokesman said: "With just 26 people per square kilometre, you can be promised a place where you can find plenty of space.

"A large proportion of Brecon Beacons National Park sits to the south of Powys where there is endless woodland, waterfalls, hills, moorlands, and heritage sites to explore.

"Powys is the only district in the UK to boast two internationally recognised Dark Sky Reserves: Elan Valley and Brecon Beacons Dark Sky Park.

"This means there is little light pollution in the district and plenty of dark sky at night-time to see the stars, which is what ranked it higher in our research.

"As well as this, it has one Dark Sky Orion site and 10 Dark Sky Milky Way sites, ranking third in the whole of the UK for Dark Sky sites alone."