Allt Y Derw

The walk up Allt Y Derw delivers proper Mid Wales scenery - rolling moorland, bracken-covered slopes, and views that stretch across Powys when the weather cooperates. It's a modest peak by any standard, but that's rather the point. This isn't a slog to some famous summit; it's a straightforward hill walk from Llanidloes that rewards you without demanding your entire afternoon.

You're looking at a couple of hours round trip for most walkers, depending on your pace and how long you linger at the top. The terrain is typical Welsh hillside - grassy underfoot when dry, bog-sodden after rain, so proper boots matter. There's no visitor centre, no facilities at the summit, no roped-off viewpoints. Just you and the landscape.

Families with older kids will enjoy it more than toddlers. The walk itself isn't technical, but it's exposed and there's nothing to hold onto, so younger children need a decent level of independence. Serious hikers might find it a bit underwhelming - it's the sort of peak you'd do as part of a longer route rather than a destination in itself.

Stay at one of the nearby parks - Glangwy Farm Camping is barely two miles away, or try Red Kite Touring Park at 4.6 miles if you want more facilities. Llanidloes itself is worth an hour's poke around. Do Allt Y Derw on a clear morning, then head back for lunch. It's honest walking, without pretence.