Drum Maen

The walk up Drum Maen rewards you with proper views across the Powys valleys - nothing flashy, just honest Welsh moorland stretching out in all directions. It's a straightforward hill rather than a technical climb, which means families with decent legs will manage it without drama, though younger children might find the final push tedious.

From Llanidloes, you're looking at a decent walk to reach it, so this isn't a quick 20-minute job. Allow three to four hours if you want to take your time and actually enjoy the views rather than just bagging the summit. Walkers who like a bit of solitude will appreciate it - you won't find crowds up here. The terrain's moorland and grass underfoot, so proper walking boots matter when the ground's wet, which is fairly often in mid-Wales.

It pairs well with a longer holiday based around Llanidloes and the surrounding area. If you're camping at Glangwy Farm or Red Kite Touring Park, Drum Maen makes a solid half-day outing combined with exploring the Clywedog Valley nearby. The Llanidloes area itself has enough going on - market town character, riverside walks, outdoor stuff - that you won't run out of things to do if the weather turns.

There's no visitor centre or facilities at the summit itself, so bring what you need. Best tackled in decent weather when visibility's reasonable - otherwise you're just trudging through cloud.