Foel Faner

The walk up Foel Faner kicks off just outside Dolgellau, and it's one of those peaks that rewards you without absolutely flattening your legs. The summit sits at 629 metres, which sounds modest until you're halfway up and the gradient gets proper steep. The views back towards the Cader Idris range are genuinely stunning - on a clear day you can see for miles across the Mawddach valley.

This one's brilliant for walkers who want something more substantial than a stroll but aren't ready to tackle the bigger peaks nearby. The path is well-trodden and marked, though it can be boggy lower down, so decent boots matter. Most people reckon on ninety minutes to the top, maybe two hours if you're taking photos and catching your breath. It's free to climb, naturally - it's a mountain.

Families with older kids will manage it fine; younger ones might struggle with the steepness in places. Historians won't find much at the summit itself, but the landscape tells its own story - you're looking at centuries of Welsh upland life below you.

If you're camping at Torrent Walk Campsite, just 1.5 miles away, you're ideally placed for an early start. The slightly longer drive to Llwyn yr Helm or Graig Wen Camping & Cottages doesn't add much time. Pack a proper lunch, bring waterproofs - this is Wales - and set off in the morning. The afternoon light gets magic up there, but you'll want daylight for the descent.