Craig-Y-Tan

The walk up Craig-Y-Tan isn't long, but it's steep enough to make you work for the views. Starting from near Dolgellau, you're looking at a proper climb through moorland - nothing technical, just relentless uphill until you break through to the ridge.

What you get at the top is honestly stunning. The Snowdonia peaks spread out across the north, the Mawddach Estuary glinting below, and on a clear day you can see all the way to Cardigan Bay. It's the kind of view that makes you understand why people come to Wales for landscape rather than theme parks.

This one's for walkers who don't mind a lung-burner but want the payoff without needing a full day. Most folk manage it in under two hours round trip, though you'll want an extra thirty minutes at the summit if you've got a camera. Kids who can handle steep paths will love the sense of achievement when they reach the top.

Start early if you can - the moorland gets busy with boot traffic come late morning, and the light gets flat by afternoon. Bring a waterproof; Gwynedd weather changes faster than you'd expect.

If you're based at Barcdy Caravan & Camping Park down near Dolgellau, this sits perfectly as a morning mission before a relaxed afternoon. Free access, no nonsense. Just turn up and walk.