Esgair-Clawdd

A 686-metre climb through moorland that rewards you with proper views across Mid Wales. Esgair-Clawdd sits above Llanidloes, close enough for a morning walk but far enough out that you'll feel like you've actually gone somewhere. The approach winds through rough grazing land and heather, and on a clear day you can see for miles - the kind of landscape that makes you understand why people walk in Wales rather than just drive through it.

This is a straightforward hill walk rather than a technical scramble. Most fit walkers manage it in under two hours there and back, though the terrain is boggy in places and underfoot can be squelchy even when it hasn't rained for days. Bring proper boots. The payoff is a trig point and space to sit with a packed lunch, looking out towards the Cambrians. No café, no visitor centre, no facilities - just you and the landscape. Free, obviously, because it's open moorland.

Best for walkers who want solitude rather than spectacle. Kids can do it if they're used to hills, but there's no "attraction" in the theme-park sense - no path, no interpretation boards, nothing to distract from the actual walking. If you're basing yourselves at one of the nearby parks - Glangwy Farm Camping or Red Kite Touring Park are closest - it's a decent half-day outing that gets you away from the tent and works off some energy. Go early to avoid the midday bog.