Gorllwyn

The walk up Gorllwyn is proper straightforward - nothing too technical, but you do need legs that are willing. From Rhayader, it's maybe twenty minutes to the trailhead, and the ascent itself takes about forty minutes if you're not dawdling. The peak sits at 548 metres, which means the views across the Elan Valley are genuinely worth the effort. On a clear day you can see for miles across Mid Wales, all rolling moorland and conifer plantations stretching towards the Brecon Beacons.

It's the kind of walk families with older kids will actually enjoy rather than endure. Young children might struggle with the steeper sections, but teenagers will find it manageable and get a proper sense of achievement at the top. Walkers treating it as part of a longer day will appreciate how well it connects to the surrounding terrain.

The real draw is solitude. This isn't a honeypot attraction, which means you'll often have the summit mostly to yourself. There's no visitor centre or facilities up top, so come prepared with water and a packed lunch if you're making an afternoon of it.

Stay at Elan Oaks or Welsh Glamping and you're ideally positioned - both sit within five miles, so you can knock this walk off before breakfast and spend the afternoon exploring the Elan Valley reservoirs nearby. The Pines Caravan Park works too. It's not dramatic or Instagram-friendly, but it's honest walking in proper Welsh countryside.