Twyn-Garreg-Wen

The walk up Twyn-Garreg-Wen is a proper slog, but you get rewarded with views that stretch across Mid Wales if conditions are kind. It's a modest peak - nothing fancy - but the drive from Neath takes you through some cracking countryside, and once you're up there, the sense of isolation is genuine. There's little in the way of facilities, which means you need to bring everything with you, and in bad weather it becomes genuinely bleak.

This is a hike for people who actually enjoy walking, not Instagram chasers. The terrain underfoot is rough in places, and the final push to the trig point demands steady legs. Depending on your fitness, allow two to three hours for the round trip. The best approach is to park sensibly near the base and follow the established path - the moorland can be boggy, so good boots aren't optional.

Walkers and landscape photographers get the most from it. Families with young kids will probably find it tiresome unless your lot are genuinely keen hikers. The pay-off is solitude - you won't be jostling with crowds here, even in summer. If you're staying at Four Falls Glamping nearby, it's close enough for a morning or afternoon venture without eating the whole day.

There's no entry fee because there's nothing to charge for - it's open country. Go when the weather forecast looks stable; midweek in autumn tends to offer the clearest views and fewest visitors.