Llyn Eigiau

The walk up to Llyn Eigiau takes you through proper wild moorland, and you'll understand why people come here once you round the final bend and see the lake spread out below you. It's a high mountain reservoir - bleak, beautiful, and genuinely remote despite being less than an hour from Penmaenmawr.

You're looking at a straightforward hike of around two hours up from the Sychnant Pass car park, following a clear path that gets progressively steeper as you climb. The lake itself sits at 320 metres, surrounded by bare hillside and outcrops of rock. On a clear day the views across to Snowdonia are genuinely worth the effort. On a grey one, it's moody and atmospheric instead - take your pick.

This is absolutely a destination for walkers rather than casual visitors. Families with older children will manage the ascent without drama, but younger kids might find it a bit of a slog. There's nothing to do once you get there except eat a sandwich and turn back. No facilities, no shops, no easy way to loop it into a bigger day. That's rather the point, mind you.

If you're camping or glamping at Erw Glas or Maenan Abbey - both just down the road - this makes a cracking half-day walk. It's free, obviously, and works best on a day when the weather's cooperating. Avoid it when low cloud rolls in; you'll see nothing but mist.