Bryn Llwyn

The walk up Bryn Llwyn from Rhyl takes you straight into proper North Wales hill country, and the effort pays off with views that stretch across Conwy Bay and inland towards the Clwydian Range. It's not a massive peak - nothing that requires fell boots or a packed lunch - but the climb is steady enough that you'll feel like you've earned the view when you reach the top.

The landscape here is classic Welsh moorland: rough grass, bracken, and the occasional wind-stunted tree. On a clear day you can see right across to the Snowdonia massif, though the haze that rolls in from Liverpool Bay can swallow the view just as quickly. The path itself is well-trodden but can be muddy after rain, so proper footwear matters.

This works best for walkers who don't need a visitor centre or a cafe at the summit - just peace and air and the satisfaction of getting somewhere under your own steam. Families with older kids will manage fine; younger ones might flag on the steeper sections. From Rhyl it's an easy enough drive inland to reach the trailhead, and if you're staying at Golden Sands Holiday Park down the coast, Bryn Llwyn makes a half-decent morning expedition before the beach crowds roll in.

The whole outing takes a couple of hours maximum. Go when the wind isn't fierce - and in North Wales that narrows your options - and you'll have a cracking spot to yourself.