Pen-Bwlch-Y-Groes

The walk up Pen-Bwlch-Y-Groes is properly steep, which means the views across Powys hit harder when you finally reach the top. It's one of those peaks that doesn't look like much on the map - just another hump in Mid Wales - but the summit gives you proper 360-degree views over the Clywedog Valley and beyond towards the Cambrians. On a clear day you can pick out terrain for miles. The peak itself is bare moorland, windswept and open, the kind of place where you feel genuinely away from things. Llanidloes sits down in the valley below, a useful reference point that helps you understand the geography.

Walkers will get the most from this one - it's not a casual amble, and there's nothing to 'do' at the summit except stand there and absorb the landscape. Most people allow 90 minutes to two hours for the round trip depending on fitness. The approach is rough underfoot and can be boggy after rain, so proper boots are essential, not trainers. If you're camped at one of the nearby parks - Glangwy Farm is closest at just over a mile away - it's a cracking spot for an afternoon hike, particularly on a clear morning when the light's good. The wind can be brutal up there, so bring a jacket even when it looks calm from the car park. Worth the effort, especially if you're staying locally and want proper views without driving hours to Snowdonia.