Garth

A modest but charming bump in the landscape near Builth Wells, this Garth offers a quiet alternative to the rugged peaks of the north. It’s the kind of hill that welcomes you with open arms and manageable gradients, rather than trying to ruin your knees.

• •It overlooks the winding Irfon Valley and the Heart of Wales railway line. This provides a perfect vantage point for hikers who prefer their locomotives with a side of fresh air.
• •The nearby village of Garth was once a minor Victorian spa destination known for its magnesium springs. Visitors would flock here to 'take the waters' in hopes of curing various 19th-century ailments.
• •Despite being labeled as Snowdonia in some records, this hill is firmly rooted in the Powys countryside. You are significantly closer to a nice cup of tea in Builth Wells than you are to a jagged Eryri peak.
• •The name 'Garth' simply means a promontory or an enclosure in Welsh. Because the name is so common, hikers often spend more time checking they are on the right 'Garth' than they do actually walking.
• •At a modest 920 feet, this is the perfect height for a 'participation trophy' climb. It is just steep enough to make you feel athletic, but not so high that the local sheep feel any need to move out of your way.