Foel-y-Ffridd

The walk up Foel-y-Ffridd isn't particularly long, but it's steep enough that you'll feel your legs by the top. Starting from near Machynlleth, this modest peak rewards effort with genuine views across the Dyfi Valley - the kind of panorama that makes you understand why people bother with Welsh hills even when they're not the show-stoppers.

It's a straightforward ridge walk, the sort that appeals to reasonably fit walkers rather than serious mountaineers. Give yourself two hours return from the car park, longer if you're moving with children or fancy a proper potter about at the summit. The terrain is rough grass and exposed rock in places - decent boots are non-negotiable.

What works here is the solitude. You won't find crowds queuing for photos, which means you can actually hear the wind and think for a bit. The views open up gradually as you climb, which is more satisfying than arriving at some tarmacked viewpoint.

For a park holiday based at Gwerniago Campsite nearby, this makes an excellent morning excursion before lunch back at base. It's the sort of walk that gives you that proper Welsh upland feeling without requiring a dawn start or serious technical skills. Families with teenagers will manage it fine; younger children might struggle with the gradient and loose ground. Spring and summer are best - winter weather can close in quickly here, and the exposed ridge gets properly unpleasant when it does.