Trum Gelli

The walk up Trum Gelli from Machynlleth isn't long, but it's steep enough that you'll feel it in your legs by the top. This modest peak rises above the market town and rewards the effort with proper views across the Cambrian Mountains - on a clear day you can see for miles across Mid Wales. The terrain is a mix of open moorland and rougher grassland, so decent boots matter here.

Walkers will get the most from this one. It's not a scramble, just a straightforward hike of maybe an hour or so depending on fitness, and it's the kind of walk where you stop halfway up thinking "why am I doing this?" before the view at the summit completely changes your mind. Kids will manage it fine if they're used to hills - the gradient is relentless rather than technical.

There's no visitor infrastructure to speak of, and it's free - you just park somewhere sensible near Machynlleth and go. The weather changes fast up here, so check the forecast first. Low cloud ruins everything.

If you're based at one of the local campsites - Gwerniago, Cae Du or Searivers are all within six miles - this makes a solid morning or afternoon sortie without eating your whole day. It's the sort of hill that doesn't sound impressive until you're up there looking out, and then you understand why people bother with Welsh peaks at all.