Cefn Du

The walk up Cefn Du from Ruthin is steep, honest, but the reward at 1,594 feet is genuine. You're looking north across the Vale of Clwyd with the Clwydian Range rolling away behind you - it's proper countryside, not some Instagram setup. On a clear day you can pick out the Dee estuary and the Cheshire plains stretching towards Liverpool. The path itself is well-trodden and fairly obvious once you're committed to the climb, though it's muddy after rain. Allow two hours for the round trip if you're not in a hurry, less if you're fit.

Historia types will appreciate that you're walking old territory here - the Denbighshire hills have Iron Age forts dotted about, and the ridge itself carries real weight in Welsh medieval geography. That said, it's not a destination for spectacle. Cefn Du works best as part of a wider Clwydian roaming if you're based near Ruthin, or paired with a night at Clwydian Glamping Pods and Campsite just a few miles out. Families with younger kids will find the ascent grinding rather than fun, unless they're already experienced walkers. The views from the top justify the effort for keen hikers and anyone wanting to understand the landscape properly rather than just tick boxes.

There's no cafe, no facilities - come prepared. Free to access, obviously. Best visited on drier days when visibility is decent; murky weather makes the top feel pointless.