Pen y Manllywn

The walk up Pen y Manllywn rewards you with views across the Golden Valley and into Wales - a proper border ridge that feels wilder than it has any right to, just a few miles west of Hereford. The peak itself sits at around 650 metres, modest by mountain standards, but the climb from the surrounding farmland is steep enough to work for it.

Getting there involves parking near the small village of Longtown and hiking up through mixed woodland and open moorland. The path isn't signed with any fuss - it's straightforward enough if you've got a map or a decent phone signal. Allow a good two hours for the round trip if you're not racing, longer if you stop for views. The summit is bare and windswept, which is exactly what you want. On a clear day you can see proper distance.

This is walker territory, no question. Families with young legs will manage fine, but it's not a gentle slope. History types might appreciate the borderland significance, though there's nothing dramatic to see up there. It's the landscape that speaks.

Free, obviously. There's nothing to pay. The nearby campsites - Olchon Valley, Cwmdu, Chapel House Farm, and Kaya at Blackhill Farm - all sit within striking distance, making it a natural morning or afternoon outing if you're staying in the area. Combine it with a walk around the Golden Valley itself and you've got a proper day out. Best attempted in decent weather. In rain it's just muddy.