Pant Serthfa

The walk up Pant Serthfa isn't long, but it's properly steep and you'll feel your legs reminding you about it for a day or two afterwards. This Powys peak sits just south of Brecon, rising above moorland that shifts colour depending on the season - purple heather in late summer, burnished brown in autumn. The summit itself is bare and windswept, which sounds bleak until you reach the top and realise you can see right across the Brecon Beacons. On a clear day the views west towards Pen y Ghent and beyond are genuinely worth the huff and puff. There's nothing up there but grass, sky, and the occasional bemused sheep, which is rather the point.

Walkers will get the most from this one. The kind of walkers who actually like walking rather than just standing about taking photos. It's a solid hour up if you're reasonably fit, another hour back down. You could link it with other peaks in the area if you're making a day of the Beacons - the terrain encourages you to roam. Families with young legs won't struggle, but toddlers would find the exposed moorland sections a bit relentless. There's no admission charge and no facilities at all - bring water and decent boots.

Stay at Pencelli Castle Caravan & Camping Park, five miles north near Brecon, and you're perfectly placed for this walk plus longer explorations of the national park. Cwmdu Campsite, barely further away, offers similar creature comforts. Both make sensible bases if you're treating the Beacons as a proper walking destination rather than a quick tourist tick-off.