Garneddwen

The walk up Garneddwen from Bala is a proper fell - steep enough to make your calves complain but short enough that you won't lose the kids halfway up. From the summit, you get the sort of view across the Snowdonia foothills that makes you forget you paid for petrol to get here. On a clear day, the Aran range fills most of the western horizon, and Bala Lake spreads out below like someone left a giant mirror on the valley floor.

This isn't a walk for the sedentary or the easily bored. You're looking at a straightforward ascent with no real scrambling, perhaps forty-five minutes up if you're moving at a decent pace. The paths are well-trodden enough that you won't go wrong, though in wet weather it becomes a bit of a slog through mud. Families with teenagers will find it rewarding; younger kids might struggle with the push towards the top.

The nearest proper base is Bala itself, a small market town that's seen better days but has everything you actually need. If you're camping locally, Tyn Cornel Camping sits just outside town and takes most of the hassle out of planning. Porth Eryri Glamping, six miles on, offers something altogether smarter if your idea of a holiday involves actual bedding. Either way, Garneddwen makes sense as a half-day detour rather than a main event. Couple it with a paddle on Bala Lake and you've got a proper morning sorted.