Mynydd Rhiw-Llech

The walk up Mynydd Rhiw-Llech is steep, quick, and absolutely worth the bother. From Port Talbot, you're looking at maybe twenty minutes to the summit if you're fit, which makes it ideal for families who fancy a proper mountain experience without the all-day commitment. The views across the Neath Valley are genuinely impressive - industrial heritage meets green hillsides, and on a clear day you can see right across to the Brecon Beacons in the distance.

It's not a manicured thing. The path is rough in places, muddy after rain, and the undergrowth can get thick, but that's rather the point. You get the feeling you've earned it. The summit itself is modest, just a hilltop with a trig point, but the sense of space around you is proper lovely. Walkers will appreciate the lack of crowds and the raw Welsh landscape. Families with older kids will find it manageable, though younger ones might struggle with the gradient.

Free to access, obviously - it's a hillside. Allow roughly an hour for the round trip including time to catch your breath at the top and soak in the views. Best done on a clear afternoon when the light's good for photographs. If you're staying at Willow Springs Campsite just down the road, this makes a cracking evening walk. It's the sort of place that reminds you why you came to South Wales in the first place.