Craig Y Garreg-Lwyd

The walk up Craig Y Garreg-Lwyd from Blaenau Ffestiniog isn't gentle. It's a proper slog, but the slate-grey peak commands the valley in a way that makes you understand why locals keep coming back. This is the sort of fell that doesn't announce itself with dramatic cliffs or sharp ridges - it's more about the views than the climb itself.

The approach takes you through moorland terrain, boggy in places, with the old quarry workings visible as you gain height. Allow two to three hours for the round trip if you're not rushed. The summit itself sits around 610 metres, which means on clear days you can see across to Snowdonia's higher peaks and down towards the coast near Porthmadog.

This works best for walkers who enjoy graft without technical difficulty. Kids aged nine upwards will manage it fine if they're used to hills; younger ones might find the unrelenting gradient tedious. It's free, naturally - no gates, no fees, just public moorland. Go mid-morning to avoid the afternoon clouds that roll in quickly around these parts.

Stay at Llechwedd Glamping at Plas Weunydd just down the road and you're perfectly placed for this walk plus exploring the old slate mines that made Blaenau Ffestiniog what it is. The peak itself feels removed from tourist infrastructure, which is precisely the point. No café, no facilities - bring what you need.