Penller Castell

The walk up Penller Castell takes you through proper Welsh moorland, climbing steadily above the landscape around Swansea. It's not a huge peak - 435 metres - but what you gain in effort on the approach, you absolutely get back in views across Carmarthenshire when you reach the top. The ridge walk alone is worth the trip if you catch a clear day.

This is walker country, full stop. The terrain is open and exposed, with sheep grazing on the slopes and moorland stretching in every direction. Come prepared for wind and changeable weather - I've seen the view disappear into cloud in minutes. The surrounding area has good paths, so you can extend the walk if you're feeling ambitious, though the direct route takes about two hours return from the bottom.

Summer and early autumn are your best bets, when the moorland isn't waterlogged and visibility tends to be decent. The peak itself is free to access, naturally, being wild countryside. Families with older kids who can handle a proper uphill walk will manage it fine; younger ones might find it a slog with nothing to do at the top except look at the view.

If you're based at one of the nearby parks - Llandyfan Camping or River View Touring Park are both solid options - Penller Castell makes a cracking half-day out. Black Ewe Glamping is closer if you want to base yourself nearby with a bit more comfort. The landscape up here feels genuinely remote, which is saying something this close to Swansea.