Foel Boeth

You'll find yourself climbing through moorland that feels properly remote, even though Foel Boeth only sits 2,100 feet or so above the Conwy Valley. The walk from Betws-y-Coed takes the better part of two hours depending on fitness, but the path is straightforward enough - following ridgelines through heather and scrub toward an unremarkable summit crowned with stones. What makes it worthwhile isn't the peak itself. It's the view back across the valley toward Pen-y-Ghent and the way the light catches the distant Menai Strait on clear days. Walkers after a proper cardiovascular push will get plenty from Foel Boeth. Families with young legs might find it a slog without much of a payoff at the top - there's no dramatic shelter, no café, just wind and space. You can do this in a morning and still have afternoon free. It's free, obviously. The nearest proper settlement is Betws-y-Coed, which sits conveniently between this peak and the better-known circuits around Snowdonia. If you're basing yourself at either Porth Eryri or Snowdonia Glamping, both within easy striking distance, Foel Boeth works as a quieter companion walk to the busier tracks elsewhere in the area. Go on a clearer day if possible - the summit views turn to murk quickly when cloud rolls in off the Irish Sea.