Daren Wen

The walk up Daren Wen rewards you with one of the best views across Swansea Bay without the crowds you'd find at Penllergaer or the coastal paths closer to the city. It's a proper hill rather than a gentle stroll - steep enough to get your heart going, but nothing that requires serious kit. The summit opens up a panorama across the bay towards the Gower Peninsula, and on a clear day you can make out the sweep of coastline that justifies why people bother living in Swansea at all.

Walkers will find this worth an hour of their time, though it's not the sort of peak that holds your attention once you've reached the top. There's no café, no facilities, just views and the occasional breeze. It works well if you're based at one of the parks closer to the city - SWDA Riverside or Swansea Marina Tourer Park are both within striking distance - and you fancy stretching your legs without driving far. Families with younger kids might find the climb a slog unless they're properly into hiking.

Go in the morning before cloud rolls in off the bay, or late afternoon when the light turns golden. Summer is obvious, but autumn can be sharper and clearer. The walk itself takes about 45 minutes from the car park if you're not dawdling, leaving you plenty of time to sort dinner back at your base. It's free, naturally, and requires nothing more than decent shoes and a rough sense of direction.