Cesyg Aled

The walk up to Cesyg Aled isn't complicated, but it's proper steep in places - and that's the whole point. This peak near Betws-y-Coed does what Snowdonia peaks do best: rewards the legwork with views that make your calves stop complaining. You're looking at moorland and ridge walking mostly, nothing technical if you've got reasonable fitness and decent boots.

The summit itself isn't some dramatic pinnacle - more of an exposed plateau where you genuinely feel the weather when it comes in. From up there, you get sweeping views across to the valleys and, on a clear day, proper sight lines toward the higher peaks. The terrain is heather and grass, sometimes boggy depending on recent rainfall, so waterproofs aren't optional.

This is walker territory, full stop. Families with young kids will find the gradient punishing; most people allow two to three hours for the round trip depending on fitness. It's free to walk, which helps. Time it for morning if you want the best light and to dodge the inevitable afternoon mist that rolls in.

If you're staying at Porth Eryri Glamping nearby, this makes a cracking day out - challenging enough to feel like proper exercise but not so long it dominates your holiday. It's the kind of walk that sits between the tourist paths of Snowdonia and proper mountaineering. Worth doing if you're already in the area, worth planning a trip around if you're serious about Welsh ridge walking.