Cwm-Y-Rhiwdre Hill

The walk up Cwm-y-Rhiwdre Hill is a proper leg-burner if you're not used to the steep sections, but it's over quickly enough. You get a genuine sense of achievement once you've crested the top - that's the whole point, really. The views sweep across Mid Wales with enough breathing room to actually see something rather than just stare at cloud. On a clear day you can make out the broader Powys landscape stretching away, which gives you a real feel for how isolated some of this country still is.

It's the sort of walk that works well for families with older kids who don't need coddling over every bump, though younger ones might find the gradient tiresome. Serious walkers will knock this out as a warm-up before tackling something more demanding. The nearest proper town is Caersws, which is a reasonable base if you're exploring the area for a few days.

There's no charge to access the hill itself - just park sensibly and go. Allow about 45 minutes to an hour for the round trip depending on your fitness and how long you linger at the top. Best tackled in the morning before the cloud rolls in, though even a grey day beats sitting indoors. If you're staying at one of the nearby parks - Love2Stay Mid Wales and Gellidywyll are both solid choices within five miles - this makes a cracking half-day outing without eating into your whole itinerary.