Mynydd Y Groes

The walk up Mynydd Y Groes from Llanidloes is straightforward enough, though the path gets properly muddy after rain. It's not a bruising slog - the summit sits at 541 metres and takes most people around 45 minutes to an hour from the town. What strikes you when you reach the top is how quiet it feels. No crowds, no gift shops, just wind and views that sweep across the Cambrian Mountains in all directions.

This is a walker's hill rather than a casual afternoon stroll. Bring proper boots. The reward is genuine - on a clear day you can see well into Ceredigion, and the moorland plateau at the top has that austere Welsh beauty that either speaks to you or doesn't. It's not Instagram-friendly and doesn't pretend to be. Families with young kids might find it a bit relentless; older children who enjoy a proper walk will get something real from it.

If you're camping locally - and there's Red Kite Touring Park, Clywedog Riverside, and a couple of others within five miles - this makes a solid morning outing. Combine it with an afternoon exploring Llanidloes itself, a proper old market town with genuine character. Allow two to three hours total including a leisurely summit pause. It costs nothing to climb. Go when the weather's settled; mist rolls in here fast and renders the views pointless.