Foel Fawr

The walk up Foel Fawr takes you through proper hill country, the kind of landscape that makes you understand why people choose to holiday in Gwynedd. At 610 metres, it's not a mountain that'll leave you gasping, but the climb is steady and the views across mid-Wales open up as you gain height. The summit itself is a rounded, heathery plateau rather than a dramatic peak - there's a trig point, a few cairns, and on a clear day you can see across to the Snowdonia range.

It's the kind of walk that suits families with older kids and regular hikers more than casual strollers. You're looking at a solid two hours up and back from Machynlleth, depending on your pace and which route you take. The terrain isn't technical, but it is exposed in places, so weather matters. Go early in the day if you can - the light's better and you'll dodge the afternoon clouds that tend to roll in from the west.

Free to walk, naturally. The real charm is how accessible it is from Machynlleth - close enough for a proper morning's exercise, far enough away that you feel like you've actually gone somewhere. If you're camped at Gwerniago or Llwyn yr Helm, this makes a crackling half-day adventure without eating into your holiday. The heather blooms beautifully in late summer, which is when the walk's most rewarding.