Esgair Gronwen

The walk up Esgair Gronwen isn't steep enough to put off anyone reasonably fit, but it's rewarding enough that you won't feel you've wasted the effort either. This modest peak sits above Llanidloes in Powys, and from the top you get proper views across mid-Wales - the sort of landscape that makes you understand why people choose to stay put in these valleys rather than rush back to the city.

You're looking at a straightforward hill walk rather than a scramble. Allow two to three hours for the round trip from the car park, depending on how many times you stop to catch your breath or admire the vista. It's free, obviously - it's a Welsh hill. The terrain is mostly decent underfoot, though it can get boggy in wet weather, so waterproofs aren't optional in winter.

Families with kids aged eight and up will manage it fine. Younger ones might find it a slog on the way back down. Walkers after a proper leg-stretcher should combine this with other peaks in the area rather than treating it as a day's entertainment on its own.

The surrounding holiday parks - Red Kite Touring Park, Clywedog Riverside, Dol-Llys Farm, and Glangwy Farm Camping - all sit within five or six miles, making Esgair Gronwen a natural morning or afternoon expedition during a caravan-based break. Time it for late afternoon if weather permits, and you'll catch the light properly across the hills. Early summer's your sweet spot - the paths dry out and the days are long enough you won't be scrambling down in the dark.