Gwaun Cefnygarreg

The walk up Gwaun Cefnygarreg from Neath isn't the most dramatic peak in Wales, but that's precisely why it works so well. You get proper valley views without the crowds that plague the bigger names, and the approach through farmland feels genuinely quieter than nearby rivals.

It's a straightforward hill walk - nothing technical, nothing that'll catch you out. The ascent's steady rather than punishing, taking most people around an hour to the summit. From the top you're looking out across the Powys landscape with Neath below and the broader mid-Wales hills rolling away toward Brecon. Clear days are proper rewarding. When the clouds roll in, as they often do, it becomes a bit of a murky trudge, so timing matters.

Families with reasonably fit kids will manage this without complaint. It's not so long that younger ones lose interest halfway, and there's enough of a sense of achievement at the top to justify the effort. History types won't find much on the peak itself - no ruins, no stones - but walkers after some genuine solitude will appreciate it.

The nearest proper accommodation is Four Falls Glamping just over two miles away, which makes an obvious base if you're combining this with other valley walks. Allow two to three hours return from the carpark depending on fitness and how long you linger at the top. No facilities up here, so bring water. Worth doing, but don't expect anything beyond a solid hill walk with decent views.