Clegyr Mawr Iron Age Enclosure

The ramparts here are still properly impressive, rising out of the moorland above Ruthin like someone's drawn a thick pencil line across the hillside. Clegyr Mawr is an Iron Age fort - not the crumbling stones you might expect, but genuine defensive earthworks that have survived over two thousand years of Welsh weather. You're looking at concentric rings of banks and ditches, the kind of settlement that would have housed a community rather than just a garrison.

It's a windswept walk to reach it, mind you. The approach from Ruthin is straightforward enough, but there's proper climbing involved once you're on the slopes. Worth every step though - on a clear day the views across the Clwydian Range are spectacular, and you get a real sense of why someone chose to fortify this particular hilltop. The landscape rolls out endlessly below.

This is one for history enthusiasts and serious walkers rather than casual visitors. You won't find interpretation boards or facilities - it's archaeology in the raw. An hour is about right to explore the ramparts and absorb the atmosphere, though you could easily stretch it to two hours if you're thorough about photographing and taking in the views. Bring proper boots; the ground gets boggy after rain.

If you're basing yourself at Clwydian Glamping Pods just a few miles away, this makes a cracking morning excursion before returning for lunch. Free to visit, naturally - it's essentially a walk onto open moorland. Go when the weather's on your side; this place can feel bleak and forgettable in drizzle.