Ffridd-Y-Fedw

The walk up Ffridd-y-Fedw from Betws-y-Coed is steep, rewarding, and over far quicker than you'd expect. You're looking at a proper fell rather than a casual hill - the kind where your calves know about it - but the ascent is mercifully short, meaning most walkers can knock it out in under two hours return. The views from the top sweep across the Conwy Valley and into the Snowdonia massif beyond, which justifies the huff and puff getting there. On a clear day the perspective alone makes it worth the effort.

This one's ideal for anyone staying at Porth Eryri or Snowdonia Glamping who wants a quick burst of exercise without committing to a full day expedition. The peak itself is modest - not a summit with a trig point or cafe - so it's really about the walk and what unfolds as you climb. Families with older children (say, nine upwards) will manage it fine provided everyone's reasonably fit; younger kids may find the steepness tedious. History buffs won't find much to linger over, though the surrounding landscape tells a story if you're into that sort of thing.

The ground can be boggy lower down and loose underfoot higher up, so proper boots matter. Start early if you're visiting in winter - the light goes fast. There's parking near Betws-y-Coed, and the whole thing costs nothing. It's a solid warm-up walk if you're based at Tyn Cornel Camping and building up to tackling Snowdon proper, or simply a morning's graft with a decent payoff if you're after something less ambitious.