Cowlod

The walk up Cowlod is properly steep, and it catches most people out. From Presteigne, you're looking at a decent trek to the summit in Powys, but the views across Mid Wales make it worthwhile if you're fit enough to manage it.

It's a straightforward hill walk rather than a technical scramble - the sort of thing that rewards you with proper 360-degree vistas once you've earned them. On a clear day you can see across the moorland and valleys that make this corner of Wales feel genuinely remote, even though Presteigne's only a few miles away. The approach is a bit boggy in places and the gradient doesn't ease off much, so don't attempt it in wet conditions unless you fancy wrestling with mud the whole way up.

This is peak-bagging territory, really. If you're the sort who likes ticking off summits and don't mind a hard slog for modest altitude, you'll get it. Families with young kids would find it grim - it's not a leisurely ramble. Serious walkers doing the broader Powys hill circuit would slot this in without complaint.

Allow two to three hours for the round trip depending on fitness and weather. There's no facilities at the top, so bring water and something to eat.

If you're based at Presteigne Holiday Park or Hush Hush Glamping nearby, Cowlod works well as a half-day objective to break up a longer Mid Wales break. Just don't underestimate the effort involved.