Carnedd Dafydd

The walk up Carnedd Dafydd isn't for the faint-hearted, but it delivers proper mountain scenery without the tourist crush of Snowdon. You're looking at a serious hike from the Ogwen valley - steep in places, loose scree at the top, and the weather can turn on you in minutes. On a clear day though, the views across the Snowdonia massif are genuinely outstanding. You'll see for miles: Snowdon itself, the Glyders, and if you're lucky, out to the Irish Sea.

Most people tackle it as part of the Carneddau ridge walk, linking it to Carnedd Llewelyn for a full day expedition. Solo peakbaggers can do it as a standalone push from either the Ogwen valley or via Pen-yr-Ole-Wen if they're feeling keen. Reckon on four to five hours for the round trip, depending on fitness and how often you stop to catch your breath. Bring proper kit - it's higher than people expect, and exposure is real in places.

Historically this is raw Welsh mountain country, and there's nothing manufactured about the experience. Families with teenagers who are confident scramblers will get on fine. Small children and anyone unused to loose rock should probably look elsewhere. The nearest caravan parks cluster around Llanberis and the Ogwen valley - Ogwen Bank and Llanberis Touring Park give you a proper mountain base for tackling this and other Snowdonia walks. It's not a casual day out, but it's worth every step if you can manage it.