Hay Bluff

The walk up Hay Bluff takes about forty minutes if you're reasonably fit, and the views from the 2,220-foot summit across the Black Mountains and into Herefordshire make it one of the best half-day outings in this corner of Wales. On a clear day you can see right across to the Brecon Beacons. The ridge walk itself is straightforward enough - follow the main path from the car park near Hay-on-Wye and you'll not go wrong, though the final push up gets a bit steep for what it is.

It's the kind of walk that suits families with children aged eight and up, though younger kids might find the climb tedious. Serious walkers often link it with the Gospel Pass walk for something more ambitious. The terrain is open moorland, so there's no shade and you'll feel the wind if it's blustery, which it often is up here.

Go early on a weekend if you want a quiet experience - by midday in summer the car park fills up fast. There's no facilities up top, so bring water and snacks. Free to access, naturally.

Stay at one of the nearby spots like Hay-on-Wye Caravan Park or Chapel House Farm Campsite, both a few miles south, and you can combine this with proper exploration of Hay-on-Wye itself - the booktown is genuinely worth half a day. It's a solid base for tackling other Black Mountains peaks too.