Castell Dinas Brân

The walk up Castell Dinas Brân is properly steep, but the views from the top make the huffing and puffing worthwhile. You're looking at the ruins of a 13th-century Welsh castle perched on a 1,300-foot hilltop just outside Wrexham, commanding views across the vale that'll stop you in your tracks.

It's a walker's job rather than a casual stroll. The path climbs relentlessly through woodland before opening out onto the summit, where you'll find the crumbling stone walls of the castle itself - not much left standing, but enough to give you the shape of what was. On a clear day you can see for miles across Shropshire and into Wales proper. Cloudy days? You'll be above the cloud line, which is its own thing entirely.

Allow a good hour and a half from Wrexham town, more if you're not a regular hill walker. The ascent is roughly 500 feet of genuine climbing, not a gentle amble. Kids who are into castles and views will get it; younger children might find it a slog for views that don't mean much to them yet.

There's no admission fee and no facilities at the top, so bring water and wear proper boots. Go early if the weather looks decent - cloud rolls in quickly up there. If you're staying at Foxtail Holiday Park, it's less than 10 miles away, making it a solid morning out that won't eat your whole day.