Allt y Main

Rising above Meifod, Allt y Main is a sturdy 356-meter ridge that scoffs at the need for jagged peaks. It’s an SSSI-protected haven of quiet woodland and limestone grassland, perfect for hikers who find the bustling Snowdonia summits a bit too 'social'.

• •It is a designated Site of Special Scientific Interest because it supports rare plants that prefer the limestone soils over the usual Welsh bog-standard greenery.
• •The hill is crowned by the remains of Caer Bach, an Iron Age fort where the original residents likely enjoyed the same views, albeit with significantly more spears.
• •It qualifies as a 'HuMP' (Hundred Metre Prominence), a classification that sounds like a minor medical condition but is actually a badge of honor for ridge-climbers.
• •The panorama across the Vyrnwy valley is exceptional, assuming the local weather hasn't decided to replace the landscape with a thick wall of grey soup for the afternoon.
• •Navigating the lower wooded sections often involves a high-stakes game of 'Is this a path or a stream?', which the stream almost always wins during the winter months.