Cefn Mawr

The walk up Cefn Mawr from Ruthin is a proper leg-stretcher, but you get your money's worth in views. It's not a massive peak - we're talking just over 1,500 feet - but the scramble through moorland and patches of gorse feels genuine enough, and on a clear day the Denbighshire landscape spreads out properly beneath you.

What makes it work is the directness of it. There's no faffing about with visitor centres or car parks - you simply head out from town and climb. The path winds through agricultural land before opening onto the open moorland proper. Wildlife watchers do well here; red grouse and mountain hares aren't uncommon, and buzzards circle overhead regularly.

For families with older kids or keen walkers, it's ideal. Younger children might find the final push a bit relentless, but there's flexibility in the route - you can bag good views at half height and turn back without feeling cheated. Allow a couple of hours for a solid round trip, longer if you're inclined to loiter at the top with a flask.

The light works best in early morning or late afternoon, when the Clwydian Range sharpens up nicely across the valley. If you're staying at Clwydian Glamping Pods just down the road, this makes a cracking morning walk before breakfast. There's nothing fancy on the summit - no trig point, no viewpoint shelter - which somehow makes it better. You've earned it without the crowds.