Pen-y-Bylchau

The walk up Pen-y-Bylchau from Llanfyllin is straightforward enough, though the final push catches you out if you're not paying attention. It's a modest peak by Welsh standards - nothing like the drama of Snowdonia - but that's precisely why it works. You get proper views across Powys without the crowds, and on a clear day you can see right across to the Berwyns. The summit itself is quiet, often just you and the sheep.

This is walker territory, full stop. It's not a casual stroll - allow a solid two hours for the round trip depending on your fitness - but it's the kind of hill that rewards you without demanding mountaineering experience. Families with teenagers will manage it fine; younger children might find it a slog. The real appeal is for anyone after genuine solitude and a proper sense of having earned the view.

There's nothing formal about access here - no visitor centre, no admission fee, just a hill that's been walked for generations. Go in the shoulder seasons, spring or early autumn, when the light does something special across the valleys. Summer brings midges and tourists who've bypassed Llanfyllin entirely.

If you're camping at Cae Nant or Camp Plas nearby, this makes a cracking half-day outing. You'll need a good map and proper footwear - it can be boggy after rain - but that's half the point. Real Wales, not theme-park Wales.