Rhos Dirion

The walk up Rhos Dirion rewards you with one of those views that makes the climb feel properly worthwhile. This Powys peak sits in that brilliant country between Hereford and the Black Mountains, and on a clear day you get the sort of panorama that explains why people spend weekends tramping up Welsh hills. The summit itself isn't dramatic - no rocky outcrops or stone cairn - but that's almost the point. You're standing on decent height with fields rolling away in every direction, and the Wye Valley spreading out below like a map.

Walkers will get the most from this one. It's not a quick stroll, but it's not a full day's commitment either - most people allow two to three hours there and back depending on fitness and how long you fancy sitting at the top. The approach is straightforward enough, though it can be boggy in places, so proper boots matter. It's the sort of walk that works brilliantly if you're camped at one of the nearby sites - Olchon Valley or Chapel House Farm are only a few miles away - and you want to get out without spending half the day driving.

Time it for late afternoon if you can. You'll have better light, fewer other walkers, and the chance to catch the sun dropping behind the hills. Families with older kids will manage fine; younger ones might find the approach tedious. Spring and early summer are your best bet - the ground dries out and the views stay sharp without the winter haze.