Llyn Creiniog

The walk down to Llyn Creiniog takes you through proper woodland - the kind where you can actually hear yourself think. It's a small glacial lake tucked into the hills above Abergele, hemmed in by steep sides and conifers that give the whole place a rather brooding atmosphere. Not the sort of spot where you'd expect crowds, and you won't find them.

What you get here is straightforward: a lake, a decent walking route around it, and plenty of birds if you're into that sort of thing. The water's cold and clear, the air's fresh enough to blow out whatever you've been breathing in the city. Allow a couple of hours if you want to do the full circuit without rushing. The path can be boggy in places, particularly after rain, so decent boots aren't optional.

This is squarely a walkers' and birdwatchers' destination. Families with young children might find it a bit of a slog getting down and back up again. There's no café, no facilities to speak of - bring what you need and take what you've brought with you.

If you're camped at Plas Farm Caravan & Lodge Park down in Abergele, it's a straightforward drive up into the hills. The lake sits within a Special Site of Scientific Interest, which tells you something about what's worth protecting here. Not flashy, not Instagram-friendly, just genuinely quiet. That's precisely why it's worth the detour.