Carnedd y Filiast

The walk up Carnedd y Filiast is a proper lung-buster, but that's rather the point. This 664-metre peak sits in the Glyderau range near Betws-y-Coed, and it's one of those mountains that doesn't announce itself loudly - no dramatic ridges, no knife-edge scrambles - just honest, grassy slopes that build steadily until you're standing above the Ogwen Valley with views that stretch toward Snowdon. The summit is marked by a cairn, nothing fancy, but on a clear day you get the sense of being properly up in the mountains rather than just taking a walk.

It's a hike for those who enjoy the actual process of climbing rather than hunting for Instagram moments. Expect somewhere between two to three hours depending on your pace and the path you take - there are several approaches, though starting from the Ogwen Valley gives the most straightforward ascent. The terrain is bog in places, rocky in others, and genuinely muddy after rain, so decent boots aren't optional. Most walkers tackle this as part of a longer ridge walk linking the neighbouring peaks, which frankly makes better use of the effort.

Families with older kids (teenagers upward) will find it rewarding; younger children might get fed up with the relentless uphill grind. It's free to climb, naturally - you're walking on open mountain. Spring through autumn are best; winter requires proper hillwalking experience. If you're staying at Tyn Cornel Camping or Porth Eryri Glamping, this is genuinely local and well worth the morning.