Buckland Hill

The walk up Buckland Hill rewards you with proper views across the Black Mountains and beyond - the sort of panorama that makes you understand why people settle in this corner of Powys. It's not a gruelling slog either, more of a steady climb from Crickhowell that takes the best part of an hour if you're not in a rush.

The peak itself is moorland rather than dramatic, but that's partly the appeal. You get space to breathe, sheep for company, and on a clear day you can see for miles across Mid Wales. The geology types will note you're on Old Red Sandstone, which gives the whole ridge that distinctive rusty tone. Families with primary-age kids manage it fine as long as you're not expecting a cafe at the top.

Timing matters. Go early to dodge the school holiday crowds from Crickhowell, and pick a morning when the cloud's lifted - midday mist can wipe out the views entirely. Allow two hours return if you're taking it easy and stopping for photos. It's free, obviously.

If you're based at Cwmdu Campsite or Pencelli Castle just down the road, this is the sort of walk that justifies a long weekend rather than filling a day. Combine it with a poke around Crickhowell's antique shops and you've got a proper Welsh valley morning sorted. On its own, though, it's not a reason to drive across country.