Eyarth Rocks - Butterfly Conservation Nature Reserve

Getting to Eyarth Rocks from Ruthin involves a proper walk through Denbighshire's quiet countryside, but it's one of those efforts that pays off. This is a Butterfly Conservation nature reserve centred on a distinctive rock outcrop - less dramatic than you might hope if you're picturing towering cliffs, but genuinely wild and worth your time if you're into the quieter side of North Wales.

The rocks themselves are the real draw. They're ancient, weathered formations that look best in afternoon light, and the surrounding grassland and scrub attract an impressive array of butterflies throughout the warmer months. Common blues, meadow browns, gatekeepers - you'll see them properly if you visit between June and August. Spring and early summer are cracking too if you want to catch them emerging.

Walkers will appreciate the terrain, though it's not technically demanding. The reserve is free to access, and you can spend as little as 45 minutes here or stretch it to two hours if you're patient with binoculars. Families with younger kids might find the appeal limited - there's not much to do beyond walking and looking - but teenagers interested in nature or wildlife photography will get something genuine out of it.

It combines brilliantly with a stay at Clwydian Glamping Pods, just two miles away. Use it as a morning or late-afternoon stop rather than a full day's activity, and pair it with the broader walking routes around Ruthin for a proper day in the hills.