Pen Cerrig-calch

The walk up Pen Cerrig-calch from Crickhowell is proper rewarding - it's not a slog, more a brisk hour-and-a-bit ramble that delivers serious views without requiring fell-running fitness. The peak itself sits at 600 metres, which sounds modest until you're standing on it looking down at the Brecon Beacons spreading out behind you and the Vale of Usk rolling away to the south.

What makes it special is the limestone quarry scars halfway up - industrial archaeology meets wild countryside in a way that shouldn't work but absolutely does. You'll spot the old workings as you climb, evidence of generations of stone-cutting before the tourists arrived. The summit's bare enough to feel exposed but grassy enough to sit down for a proper picnic without your backside getting soaked.

This is a walker's walk, pure and simple. History types will appreciate the industrial heritage; landscape photographers will be twitching with trigger finger. Young kids manage it fine if they're reasonably active, though the steeper sections aren't scrambles so much as steady climbs - nothing technical. Allow two-and-a-half hours for the round trip if you're stopping to actually look about.

Crickhowell makes a logical base - small, walkable town with decent cafes - and Cwmdu Campsite nearby (2.3 miles) is well-rated if you're after proper outdoor accommodation. The peak works nicely as a morning mission before heading into the Beacons proper, or as a standalone afternoon when you're not fancy venturing further afield. Free to roam, naturally.