Darren Lwyd

The walk up Darren Lwyd rewards you with proper views across the Black Mountains and deep into Powys. It's not a massive peak - you're looking at a couple of hours round trip from the car park - but the climb feels genuine enough, with the landscape opening up as you gain height.

This is walker territory, full stop. You won't find a café at the top or a gift shop at the base. What you get instead is quietness and the kind of vista that makes you understand why people choose to camp out here rather than the honeypot spots further south. On a clear day you can pick out the Brecon Beacons to the east, and the whole of the Olchon Valley spreads below you like a map.

The route itself is straightforward if you know where you're going, though the initial sections can be boggy after rain. Bring decent boots. The peak sits within striking distance of Hereford, making it a solid half-day option if you're based at Chapel House Farm Campsite or Olchon Valley Campsite just down the road. Both are genuinely close - three miles or so - so you could easily combine this with exploring Hay-on-Wye's independent bookshops and pubs without eating up your whole day.

Timing-wise, aim for morning starts. Weather rolls in fast across these hills, and you want decent light for the descent. Families with very young kids might find the boggy bits tiresome, but teenagers who can handle a proper walk will find it worthwhile. There's something satisfying about summiting something this honest.