Foel-Goch

You'll find Foel-Goch rising up from the moorland between Machynlleth and the Aran range - a proper little peak that punches above its weight for views. The walk up takes about ninety minutes from the nearest parking, climbing through heather and rough grassland with the Dyfi Valley opening out behind you. On a clear day, you can see across to Snowdonia, though honestly the appeal here is the quiet rather than the drama.

This is walker territory, not a casual stroll. The terrain's boggy in places, exposed on top, and the wind can whip across without warning. Parents with youngsters might find it a slog - there's no quick payoff at the summit, just a cairn and solitude. But if you're hiking the mid-Wales high points or want a day out from Gwerniago Campsite nearby, it works well as part of a longer circuit.

There's no visitor facility, car park fee, or timetable to worry about - you just turn up and go. Autumn's probably the best season, when the light's golden and the bog's slightly less squelchy. The whole outing takes three to four hours depending on your pace and route choice. It's the sort of hill that rewards you not with postcard views but with the feeling of having climbed something proper, on a landscape that hasn't changed much in decades.