Ffynnon Llugwy

Drive inland from Llanfairfechan and you'll find yourself at a proper mountain lake surrounded by dense Welsh forest. Ffynnon Llugwy sits at decent altitude - the air feels thinner, colder, more serious than the coast you've just left behind. It's not a destination for Instagram snaps. There's no gift shop, no café, no facilities to speak of. What you get instead is raw, unspoiled water and the kind of quiet that makes you remember why you came to Wales in the first place.

The walk around the lake isn't long but it's rewarding, picking your way through birch and oak with the water always there, grey-green and still. Fishermen come here - you'll see them dotted along the banks - and walkers appreciate it as a proper pit stop on longer routes through Snowdonia. If you're staying at Maenan Abbey Caravan Park just down the road, this makes an excellent half-day outing, especially on a crisp morning before the light gets too bright.

Timing-wise, allow ninety minutes to two hours if you're doing the circuit without rushing. Spring and autumn are best - summer can feel a bit crowded with day-trippers, and winter access depends on weather. There's parking at the lake itself, though spaces fill quickly on weekends. Bring proper boots if it's been wet. The terrain gets boggy in places and there's nothing worse than squelching back to the car in trainers. Free to visit, naturally.