Llyn Cwmystradllyn

The water here is proper dark - almost black against the surrounding hills - and it takes a moment to realise you're standing at one of North Wales' least crowded lakes. Llyn Cwmystradllyn sits in a valley near Garndolbenmaen, well away from the tourist crush of Snowdonia's honeypot spots. It's a straightforward walk down to the shore, nothing technical, and you'll likely have the place to yourself even in summer.

What you get is a decent circular walk around the lake itself - probably 45 minutes to an hour depending on pace - with views back up to the surrounding fells. The water's the main draw; it's genuinely beautiful in that understated Welsh way. You won't find facilities or a café, so bring a flask and a sandwich if you're settling in for a morning.

Families with older kids do well here. Younger ones might find the walk a bit samey after half an hour. It's the sort of place walkers return to rather than visit once - the kind of lake you pass to and forget you haven't actually been to before.

If you're camped at Ty'n Llan just down the road, this is an absolute no-brainer for a morning outing. Even from Black Rock Sands or Glan-Y-Môr, it's worth the short drive. Free, obviously - there's nothing stopping you - and it works perfectly as a pause between bigger park days.