Llyn Gwernan

The walk down to Llyn Gwernan from the car park near Dolgellau takes about twenty minutes and honestly, it's worth every step. You're descending through proper Welsh woodland - oak and birch mostly - until suddenly the lake opens up below you, dark water ringed by steep hillsides that rise like a natural amphitheatre. It's the kind of place that makes you understand why people get romantic about North Wales.

There's a small beach area at the far end where you can sit and watch the water, and the path circles the whole lake if you're up for a longer ramble. The thing about Llyn Gwernan is it doesn't feel visited in the way Snowdonia's big-name spots do. Families with younger kids might find it a bit limited - the walk's straightforward enough but there's not a great deal to do once you're there beyond looking at the view and having a packed lunch. Walkers and photographers, though, will find something genuinely special. The light in the late afternoon is exceptional.

It's free to visit and you can spend anything from an hour to half a day depending on how much of the surrounding paths you fancy exploring. If you're camped at Torrent Walk Campsite or Llwyn yr Helm just outside Dolgellau, this makes an easy morning or evening outing that doesn't require a full day's commitment. Go midweek if you can - weekends can get a bit busy with local walkers.