Erw Y Ddafad-Ddu

The walk up Erw Y Ddafad-Ddu isn't long, but it's proper steep and the payoff depends entirely on the weather. On a clear day from Dolgellau, you're looking at Cadair Idris dominating the valley and the surrounding Snowdonia ridges stretching out like a relief map. On a cloudy one, you're mostly looking at cloud.

It's a hill rather than a mountain - the kind locals know well and visitors often overlook. The path kicks up quickly from the base, and there's little in the way of shelter or comfort once you're committed. Allow a couple of hours up and down if you're moving steadily. The views reward the leg work, but only if the visibility cooperates.

Families with younger kids might find it a bit of a slog for not much reward, especially if the clouds roll in. Walkers who know the Dolgellau area well will see it as a logical morning tick-off before heading elsewhere. History types won't find much to grab onto - it's purely about the walking and the vistas.

Stay at Llwyn yr Helm Caravan and Camping Park, six miles away, and you've got a decent base for exploring the wider Snowdonia peaks. Cadair Idris is the obvious next move. Erw Y Ddafad-Ddu works best as a warm-up climb or a way to understand the lay of the land before tackling something bigger.

Free to climb, naturally. Go early morning when the air's clearest, and bring decent boots - it gets boggy.