Cnicht

The walk up Cnicht from Croesor village is steep, relentless, and absolutely worth every laboured breath. This 689-metre peak in Gwynedd commands views that stretch across Snowdonia to the Irish Sea on a clear day - though "clear" is doing a lot of work in Welsh mountain weather. The route climbs roughly 500 metres over about two miles, which sounds manageable until you're halfway up realising your legs have other opinions.

It's a walker's mountain, not a casual stroll. Families with older children will manage it fine; younger ones will find it tedious. The payoff, though, is proper Snowdonia: craggy slopes, distant peaks, and on a good day, views all the way to Caernarfon and beyond. Allow three hours minimum for the round trip, depending on fitness.

There's no visitor centre, no facilities at the summit, no charge. Just a well-trodden path that starts near Croesor and gets progressively more of a slog. Start early - the mountain gets crowded in summer, and the weather turns quickly up here. You'll want daylight on your side.

If you're camping at Bryn Dinas or Cae Du nearby, Cnicht makes a solid half-day objective. It pairs well with exploring the Beddgelert area or tackling Snowdon from a different angle. Not everyone's cup of tea - the views are excellent but not extraordinary - but it's a proper mountain climb without the zoo-like crowds of Snowdon's summit.