Allt yr Esgair

The walk up to Allt yr Esgair rewards you with a proper panorama across the Brecon Beacons. You're looking out over valley after valley, the kind of view that makes you understand why people hike in Wales rather than just driving past it. From Brecon, it's a fairly straightforward trek - nothing technical, but the climb is real enough that you'll feel it in your legs.

What makes this spot different from the dozen other viewpoints in the Beacons is how it sits. You get the sense of being genuinely high without the exposed scramble that puts some people off. On a clear day the light across those ridges is something else. On a grey day - and there will be grey days - it's moody and worth the walk anyway.

Walkers will get the most from this. It's not a destination for a picnic blanket or family lunch, though teenagers who can handle a proper hill will find it worth the effort. Allow a couple of hours for the round trip depending on your pace. Peak season brings crowds, so go midweek or early morning if you can.

If you're staying at Pencelli Castle or Cwmdu Campsite nearby, this fits perfectly into a day's walking. Both are within easy driving distance, making it ideal for breaking up a week of camping with a proper leg-stretcher. The Beacons as a whole demand this kind of effort to really see them.