Moel Brynmawr

The walk up Moel Brynmawr takes you through proper moorland on the outskirts of Port Talbot, and once you're up there, the views across the valleys stretch for miles. It's a modest peak as Welsh mountains go, but that's rather the point - you get genuine hill-walking atmosphere without needing crampons or a survival kit.

The ascent itself is straightforward, tracking through heathland and grassland with decent paths most of the way. On a clear day you can see right across the industrial heartland of South Wales, which sounds grim until you realise how dramatic it actually looks from height. The contrast between the working landscape below and the wild open moorland under your feet is genuinely absorbing.

Allowance maybe two hours for the round trip if you're not dawdling, though many people linger at the top. Families with capable walkers will manage it fine; younger kids might find the terrain a bit monotonous on the way back down. It's free to access and open year-round, though winter weather can turn it muddy and windblown fast.

If you're camping at Willow Springs - just under six miles away - this is a cracking morning outing before breakfast or an afternoon walk when you've had enough of the site. It's one of those walks that doesn't photograph brilliantly but leaves you feeling properly connected to the landscape. Worth the walk, especially if you're basing yourself in the area for a few days.