Craig Ddrwg

Craig Ddrwg is a proper hill walk in Gwynedd, the sort of peak that rewards you without demanding mountaineering skills. From Talsarnau, it's a straightforward hike up rough terrain with views across the Snowdonia foothills and down towards the coast. The ascent takes about an hour depending on fitness, and the summit itself - nothing dramatic, just a cleared rocky top - gives you that satisfying sense of having earned something.

Walkers and families after a half-day adventure will get the most from it. It's not a tourist trap with a café at the top or a visitor centre at the base. You turn up, pay nothing, and go. That's the appeal. Allow two to three hours round trip if you're taking photos and stopping to catch your breath.

What makes this work as part of a wider Gwynedd trip is the company. Rhaeadr Nantcol Waterfalls is only 4.7 miles away - another cracking spot for a walk without the climb. Barcdy Caravan & Camping Park, Woodlands, and Castle View are all within easy reach if you're basing yourself in the area for a week. You can do Craig Ddrwg as your morning shift, then loop in the waterfall walk in the afternoon, or just sit at the park and enjoy not driving anywhere.

Best visited on a clear day. Mist rolls in fast around here, and you won't see much if the cloud's down. Spring and early summer are ideal - dry enough underfoot, not yet rammed with school holiday crowds.