Mynydd Cilgwyn

The walk up Mynydd Cilgwyn isn't technically difficult, but it's steep enough to earn respect. From Machynlleth, you're looking at a proper moorland climb that takes the best part of an hour to the summit, depending on your fitness and which route you take. The reward is a 564-metre viewpoint across the Dyfi Valley - on a clear day you can see right across Mid Wales, which feels genuinely expansive rather than just nice.

It's the kind of peak that appeals to serious walkers rather than casual strollers. Families with kids who can handle a sustained incline will find it manageable, but toddlers and anyone after an easy amble should look elsewhere. The landscape is moorland and bracken - nothing dramatic, just honest walking terrain. In autumn especially, when the light sits low across the hills, it's worth the slog.

Free to access, obviously. The nearest campsite is Gwerniago, about four miles away, which makes this a sensible morning expedition if you're staying in the area. Allow two to three hours for the round trip, longer if you want to sit about at the top. Go mid-week if you can - weekends bring the Machynlleth crowd, and the moorland gets a bit busier than it needs to be.

It's not a peak that makes the guidebooks, which is rather the point. Real views, proper exercise, no queues.