Mynydd y Bryn

The walk up Mynydd y Bryn from Llanymynech is one of those proper little hills that surprises you. It's not tall - 358 metres - but the views across the Shropshire-Powys border make it feel like something proper. On a clear day you can see the Brecon Beacons rolling away to the south, and the Tanat Valley drops away beneath you with real drama.

It's an easy climb from the village, taking maybe 45 minutes to the summit and back down. The path winds through farmland and patches of woodland, and there's an old quarry near the top that tells you this place has been worked for centuries. You'll find the summit relatively bare - moorland rather than dramatic rocky outcrops - but that's what makes the views hit harder. Nothing between you and Wales.

Family groups with kids will manage this without trouble, though younger legs might want a break halfway. History types should know about the old castle mound visible from up here, and walkers will appreciate that this slots neatly into longer circuits around the Tanat Valley. It's genuinely free and unrestricted - no gates, no ticket booths. Go early or late to avoid the rare crowds.

If you're staying at Tanat Holiday Park or Sweeney Farm Glamping nearby, this is the obvious afternoon outing. Quick, rewarding, and the kind of hill that sticks with you because you weren't expecting much and got proper views instead.