Garth Rhiwaedog

The walk up Garth Rhiwaedog takes the best part of an hour from the Bala side, and it's genuinely one of those summits where the effort pays off. You're not tackling anything technical here - it's more a steady trudge through moorland that gets progressively steeper - but the views across the Dee Valley make the slog worthwhile.

On a clear day, you'll clock the Aran mountains to the south and the higher peaks beyond. The summit itself isn't dramatic - no dramatic trig point or sweeping ridge - just a proper working moorland top where you can sit and actually hear yourself think. That's rather the point.

This isn't a destination for casual strollers. The path can be boggy depending on weather, and there's no shelter at the top. But if you're walking holiday folk based at Tyn Cornel Camping near Bala, it's a cracking morning or afternoon outing that won't wipe you out for the rest of the day. Pack a map and waterproofs - the weather in Gwynedd can turn on a sixpence.

Families with older kids (nine plus, ideally) will manage it fine. Younger ones might find it a slog, though the reward of genuinely wild moorland is worth considering if they're keen walkers. It's free, of course, and there's no entrance fee or facilities to worry about - just turn up, park sensibly near Bala, and go. Allow three hours return if you're not moving quickly.