The Begwns

The Begwns rises up from the moorland south of Road like something that's been there since the earth settled. It's a proper walk to the summit - nothing technical, just relentless - but the views across the Black Mountains and down into the Wye Valley make every stride worthwhile. On a clear day you can see Wales spreading out in all directions, which sounds overdone until you're actually standing there.

This is walkers' territory through and through. The kind of place where you'll see proper hiking boots and OS maps, not day-trippers in trainers. Allow a solid three hours minimum for the round trip, more if you're not used to climbing. The terrain is open moorland with minimal shelter, so weather matters - get it wrong and you'll be slogging through cloud and wind with nothing to show for it.

What makes it work as a park holiday destination is the location. You're within striking distance of several decent holiday bases - Borders Hideaway is just 2.8 miles away, and Hay-on-Wye Caravan Park sits at 4 miles, giving you proper civilisation nearby without being on top of it. The nearest town of Road itself is small but genuine, not a tourist resort pretending to be something it isn't.

Not for families wanting an easy afternoon stroll, and probably not worth the detour if you're only in the area for a long weekend. But if you're a walker spending a week in Mid Wales, building this into your itinerary makes sense. Free to access, accessible year-round, though winter can turn muddy quickly.