Mynydd Uchaf

Standing at 357m, Mynydd Uchaf's name translates to 'Highest Mountain'—a title that suggests the original cartographer was either incredibly local or had a world-class sense of irony. It serves as a gentle, moorland gateway between the industrial Amman Valley and the wilder Black Mountain.

• •Despite the ambitious name, it is far from the highest peak in Wales, but it does offer an unencumbered 360-degree view that makes you feel like the king of the coalfields.
• •The slopes are dotted with ancient cairns and evidence of Bronze Age activity, suggesting that humans have been enjoying the view (and the wind) here for thousands of years.
• •Historically, this area was vital common land, and you can still see the remnants of field boundaries that tell the story of the region's agricultural and industrial evolution.
• •The hill sits on the edge of the South Wales Coalfield; looking south, you can trace the history of the Industrial Revolution written directly into the landscape of the valleys below.
• •The 'path' to the summit is frequently a collaborative art project between the local sheep and the weather; if you find yourself waist-deep in a bog, you have officially strayed from the masterpiece.