Stow Hill

The walk up Stow Hill rewards you with views that stretch across the Mid Wales borderlands - on a clear day you can see right into Shropshire. It's a proper climb though, steep enough to get the heart pumping but not so gruelling that you'll regret the effort halfway up.

From Presteigne - just a few miles away - the hill rises obvious and commanding. Most walkers allow a couple of hours for the round trip, depending on fitness and how long you linger at the top. There's a trig point marking the summit, and the landscape fans out in all directions: moorland, distant hills, patches of green valley floor.

It's the sort of walk that suits anyone with reasonable leg fitness. Kids will manage it if they're used to walking, though younger ones might find the climb a slog. History enthusiasts will appreciate that you're walking country with proper Welsh roots, though there's no dramatic ruins or monuments up there - it's about the vantage point itself.

Going free, naturally. Best tackled on a morning when clouds haven't rolled in, because when the mist comes down, you lose everything that makes it worthwhile. Spring and early summer are ideal - the moorland's less boggy.

If you're staying at Black Hall Lodges or Shropshire Luxury Glamping, both within five miles, this makes an excellent half-day outing. Fits nicely alongside exploring Presteigne itself or pushing on to Rockbridge Park for a longer stay in the area.