Carreg Goch

The walk up Carreg Goch is a proper slog, but the payoff is genuine. You're looking at a modest peak in the Brecon Beacons, rising steeply enough that most walkers will feel their legs by the time they reach the summit. The views across mid-Wales are exactly what you want from a hill of this height - far-reaching moorland, other peaks dotting the horizon, and on a clear day you can track the landscape all the way south toward Swansea.

This isn't a destination for casual strollers. Families with young kids will find the ascent exhausting; teenagers and adults who enjoy a proper walk will get their money's worth. The ground underfoot is rough in places, boggy in others, so proper boots are non-negotiable. Allow two to three hours depending on fitness and how long you linger at the top.

What makes it work is the lack of crowds. You won't queue for photos here. It's you, the wind, and the view. If you're staying at Brecon Beacons Camping & Caravan Park just down the valley, this is a natural choice - close enough for a half-day expedition but demanding enough to feel like an actual achievement. Aber Glamping in the Brecon Beacons, a bit further afield at 5.4 miles, gives you similar access without the caravan park atmosphere.

Best visited outside summer school holidays and after dry weather when the paths aren't completely waterlogged. Spring and autumn are ideal.