Dinas Melin-y-wig Hillfort

High above Ruthin, the Iron Age ramparts of Dinas Melin-y-wig cut across the hillside like a scar. Getting up here requires a proper walk - steep in places, muddy after rain - but once you've reached the summit, you understand why Iron Age tribes chose this spot. The views across the Vale of Clwyd are genuinely spectacular, rolling farmland stretching out in every direction.

What you're actually seeing is a hillfort: two concentric rings of earth and stone that once defended a settlement of maybe a few hundred people. The defences are still visible, raised banks that would have supported wooden palisades. There's no visitor centre, no interpretation boards, no cup of tea waiting - it's just you, the archaeology, and the wind. Some find that brilliant. Others might feel a bit lost without the usual heritage site apparatus.

It works best for walkers and history enthusiasts who don't need hand-holding. Families with young children might find the climb more rewarding than the site itself - there's not much to do once you're up there except look about and take photos. Allow 90 minutes to two hours from Ruthin town centre, longer if you're coming from further afield.

Free, obviously. No facilities. Clwydian Glamping Pods and Campsite, just four miles down the road near Ruthin, makes a sensible base if you're planning to explore the whole area - plenty of other Clwydian Range walks within easy reach.