Pritchards Hill

The walk up Pritchards Hill rewards you with proper views across the Powys borderlands - the kind of vistas that make you understand why people settle in Mid Wales. It's not a brutal slog, though there is proper climbing involved, and the summit itself is marked by a trig point that stands alone against frequently dramatic skies.

This is walker territory, absolutely. You'll get the most from it if you're comfortable with a steady incline and don't mind a bit of wind exposure at the top. The route takes a couple of hours there and back from the car park, depending on fitness and how long you linger. Kids aged ten and up will manage fine if they're used to hills; younger ones might find it a bit much without encouragement.

There's nothing fancy up here - no cafe, no visitor facilities, just grass and views. That's rather the point. It's free to walk, naturally, and you can visit any time you like. The ground gets muddy after rain, so wellies or decent hiking boots matter more than you'd think.

If you're based at one of the nearby parks - Seven Oaks and Big Bear Lodge are practically on your doorstep, and Bank Farm sits just two miles away - Pritchards Hill makes a cracking morning walk before heading into Shrewsbury for lunch. It's the sort of place that fills the gap between proper days out, but do go when the weather's settled. Cloud sitting on the summit rather spoils the whole affair.