Mynydd Ton

The walk up Mynydd Ton rewards you with proper views across the Neath Valley - nothing flashy, just honest South Welsh landscape stretching out beneath you. It's a straightforward climb from Port Talbot, the sort of hill that doesn't pretend to be more difficult than it is, taking most people around 45 minutes to reach the top.

You're looking at moorland rather than forest - gorse and grass mostly - so there's real exposure to the elements up here. On a clear day you can see right across towards Swansea. On a grey one, which is frequent enough, you get that brooding, atmospheric quality that Welsh hills do so well.

Walkers after a proper leg-stretcher rather than a gentle ramble will find this worthwhile. It's not a destination in itself - you won't spend hours at the summit - but it slots nicely into a wider walking plan around the area. The ground can be boggy after rain, so decent boots matter more than the altitude suggests.

If you're based at Willow Springs Campsite just down the road, this makes a solid morning or afternoon outing without the faffing about of driving elsewhere. Families will manage it fine if the kids are reasonably active, though younger ones might grumble about the final push. The real appeal is straightforward: a Welsh hill that gives you movement and air and views without any nonsense. Go midweek if you can - it's not mobbed, which is exactly how it should be.