Pen Allt-mawr

The walk up Pen Allt-mawr is properly steep, no messing about. From Crickhowell, it's a straightforward pull onto this 2,457-foot peak that commands the landscape around the Black Mountains like a proper guardian. On a clear day - and you'll want to wait for one - the views sprawl across mid-Wales in every direction. The Brecon Beacons dominate to the south, and on really good visibility you can pick out the Sugar Loaf mountain nearby. The ascent takes about an hour from the base, and it's relentless rather than technical. Walkers and hill enthusiasts will get genuine value here; families with young legs will find it manageable if they're used to climbing, though younger children might struggle with the gradient. The peak itself is modest - a cairn and some exposed moorland - but that's rather the point. You're paying for the view, not the summit flourishes. It's free, naturally, and works brilliantly as part of a longer Brecon Beacons circuit. If you're based at Cwmdu Campsite just down the road, this makes an excellent half-day outing. Go morning if you can to dodge afternoon cloud that rolls in regular as clockwork. Allow three hours return and bring proper weather gear - the wind bites up there.