Llyn Conwy

The reservoir sits in a proper remote pocket of Snowdonia, about twenty minutes' drive from Betws-y-Coed. What you're looking at is a working water supply that somehow feels utterly untouched - dark water ringed by conifers and the odd patch of open moorland, with the mountains looming beyond. It's not a destination you'd spend half a day at. More a 45-minute detour where you can walk the eastern perimeter track, watch for buzzards, and remember why you came to North Wales in the first place.

The walk around the near end is flat and straightforward, good for anyone who fancies legwork without the scrambling. The far shore is rougher terrain. Honestly, if you're staying at Snowdonia Glamping Holidays or Porth Eryri Glamping - both excellent bases for the area - it makes sense to slot this in between proper fell walks rather than planning a trip specifically to see it. Families with young kids might find the lack of facilities and facilities a bit underwhelming. But walkers and photographers will see the appeal immediately. The light hits the water differently each hour, and when clouds move through the peaks above, it's genuinely worth stopping for.

Come when it's not raining sideways. Summer weekends will be quieter than you'd think given how close it is to Betws-y-Coed. Free to visit, no parking fees or entry charges. Allow an hour if you're dawdling, thirty minutes if you just want the view.