Gyrn Ddu

The walk up Gyrn Ddu, just outside Caernarfon, is mercifully short but rewards you with proper views across the Menai Strait and inland towards Snowdonia. It's not a mammoth undertaking - you're looking at maybe an hour round trip depending on pace - which makes it ideal if you've got restless kids or you're not in the mood for a full day's slog.

The peak itself sits at a decent height without being brutally steep, and the paths are well-trodden enough that you won't need specialist gear. On a clear day the visibility is excellent. You'll see across to Anglesey, which is genuinely worth the effort. The real pull here is how accessible it is - no faff, no permit, just turn up and go.

For families staying at Gyrn Ddu Campsite or Aberafon, both within touching distance, this works brilliantly as a morning walk before breakfast gets cold or an evening leg-stretch when energy levels are flagging. Older kids who can manage a steep incline will find it satisfying without being demoralising. History buffs might note the fortifications of Caernarfon Castle sitting below, which adds context to the landscape you're surveying.

It's free, accessible, and fits neatly into a wider North Wales break without dominating your itinerary. Pair it with time in Caernarfon town itself or longer walks in the Snowdonia foothills if you want more ambitious terrain. Come in decent weather though - the wind can be bracing up there, and cloud cover strips away most of what makes it worth the climb.