Hargrave Bank

The walk up Hargrave Bank near Welshpool rewards you with proper views across the Powys valleys - nothing dramatic, but on a clear day you can see why people bother making the trip. It's a modest peak by Welsh standards, the sort of place walkers use as a half-day circuit rather than a destination in itself. The climb isn't punishing, though the path gets boggy after rain, so choose your footwear carefully. You're looking at under two hours from the base and back if you're reasonably fit.

This works best for walkers who appreciate the quiet stuff - you won't find crowds or facilities up here, just open moorland and the kind of silence that makes you remember why you left the house. Families with younger kids might find it a bit of a slog for limited payoff. History buffs won't find much to investigate once they're up there, though the surrounding landscape tells its own story about Mid Wales.

There's no formal admission charge since it's essentially an open moorland walk. Allow a good three hours if you want to dawdle and take photographs. Spring and summer are obviously pleasanter, but winter gives you the best light if you're lucky with the weather.

If you're based at Bank Farm Caravan Park, barely two miles away, this is exactly the sort of pocket walk that makes a caravan holiday work - near enough for a morning sortie without needing to drive hours. Pair it with exploring Welshpool itself on a wet day.