Llawlech

The walk up Llawlech isn't long, but it's steep enough to make you work for the views. From Talybont, you're looking at a proper climb through moorland and rough grass - maybe forty minutes if you're fit, longer if you're taking your time. The peak itself sits at 679 metres, and on a clear day you get sight lines across Snowdonia that justify the huffing and puffing on the way up.

It's a walker's hill, really. The path is well-trodden but can be boggy lower down, so decent boots matter. There's no visitor centre, no café, no facilities - just you, the mountain, and whatever weather Gwynedd decides to throw at you. That's either brilliant or frustrating depending on your mood. Families with young kids might find the scramble a bit much, though older children who like a challenge will get a kick out of it.

The real strength of Llawlech is how it sits within proper walking country. You're close enough to Talybont to base yourself at one of the caravan parks nearby - Hendre Mynach or Graig Wen are both within easy reach - and use it as a half-day outing before heading to bigger attractions like Rhaeadr Nantcol Waterfalls or Shell Island. Go early if you can. The views matter here, and afternoon clouds roll in fast in this part of Wales.

Free to climb, obviously. Allow two to three hours return journey if you want to sit at the top and enjoy it.