Carreg-y-Saeth

The walk up Carreg-y-Saeth isn't long, but it's steep enough to make you earn the view. This peak sits above Llanbedr in Gwynedd, and on a clear day you get proper views across the Mawddach estuary and out towards Cardigan Bay - the kind of vista that makes the huffing and puffing worthwhile.

It's a straightforward hill walk rather than a technical climb. Allow 90 minutes to two hours for the round trip depending on your fitness and how long you want to linger at the top. The terrain is moorland and grass, so decent boots help, especially after rain when it gets boggy. There's a small cairn at the summit - nothing fancy, but a good spot to sit and eat a sandwich.

Walkers will find this more rewarding than casual tourists after a five-minute stroll. If you're staying at one of the nearby caravan parks - Woodlands, Castle View, or Min-y-don are all within easy reach - it makes a solid morning outing before heading to the beach. The walk itself is free, naturally. Summer and early autumn are best; winter can be proper bleak and wet.

It's not a showstopper on the level of Snowdon, but that's precisely why you won't be queuing. The Rhaeadr Nantcol Waterfalls are just three miles away if you want to combine it with another walk. For a quiet, straightforward Welsh hill experience without the crowds, Carreg-y-Saeth works well.