Llyn Glangors

The water here is dark and still, ringed by steep Welsh hillsides that rise up without fuss or fanfare. Llyn Glangors sits in a quiet valley near Betws-y-Coed, the kind of place you stumble upon rather than plan for. It's a proper mountain lake - nothing fancy, no facilities, just water and stone and the occasional sound of a bird.

You can walk around it or simply find a spot on the bank and settle in. The path isn't complicated, though it does get boggy after rain, and the scenery does the work for you - no need for theme parks or visitor centres here. Walkers love it because it's genuinely peaceful, and the views back down the valley are worth the slight effort. Families with older kids will manage fine; younger children might find forty minutes is enough before they're ready to move on.

If you're staying at Maenan Abbey Caravan Park or Snowdonia Glamping Holidays nearby, this makes an easy half-morning walk without the crowds you'd get at more famous Snowdonian lakes. There's no admission fee and no opening hours to worry about - you just go. The best time is early autumn when the water's calm and the light's proper golden. Don't expect grand facilities. Do expect quiet and space, which in North Wales is becoming rarer by the year.