Crugyn Gwyddel

The walk up Crugyn Gwyddel isn't long, but it's steep enough to make your calves remind you of it the next morning. This Powys peak sits just outside Rhayader, rising to around 650 metres, and on a clear day the views across the Elan Valley and beyond justify the huffing and puffing.

There's nothing fancy here - no café, no visitor centre, no signposted car park. You park near the base and head up, and that's rather the point. The terrain is moorland, coarse grass and heather, so proper walking boots aren't negotiable, especially after rain when it turns boggy. Most people allow between 90 minutes and two hours for the round trip, depending on fitness and how long you linger at the top.

This is one for walkers with decent stamina rather than casual strollers. Children aged ten upwards will manage it fine if they're used to hills. The real reward isn't a trig point or a cairn - it's the exposure. You're high enough to feel genuinely elevated above Mid Wales, and in winter or on grey days it's rather moody and atmospheric.

Combine it with the Elan Valley itself, which has excellent forest walks and reservoirs nearby. Elan Oaks and Wyeside are both within spitting distance, making this a natural add-on to a longer park holiday. It's the sort of walk you do because you want proper exercise and views, not because someone told you it was essential. And that's when you tend to enjoy things most.