Bryn Cefn

The walk up Bryn Cefn from Llanidloes isn't long, but it's steep enough to catch you out if you're not prepared. Once you've climbed the moorland path though, you get proper views across the Clywedog Valley - the kind of wide-open Mid Wales vista that makes you remember why you came here in the first place.

It's a peak that rewards walkers more than casual strollers. The summit itself isn't dramatic - no cairn or obvious marker - but the moorland feels genuinely wild, especially on a clear day when you can see right across Powys. You'll spend maybe two hours round trip from town if you're moving at a decent pace, an hour if you're fit and pushing.

History buffs might appreciate that you're standing on land thick with Welsh heritage, though Bryn Cefn itself isn't a named archaeological site. It's really the walk and the views that matter here - straightforward hill walking territory without the crowds of the bigger peaks.

Families with younger kids? Honestly, it depends on their legs. The terrain is open moorland, so there's nowhere to hide if energy levels drop. Teenagers and proper walkers will enjoy it though, especially if the weather's holding.

Staying at one of the nearby parks - Clywedog Riverside or Red Kite are closest at under two miles - gives you easy access for a morning expedition. It's the sort of walk you'd do as a warm-up before tackling something more serious in Snowdonia.