Llyn Gweryd

The walk down to Llyn Gweryd takes you through proper moorland - heather and scrub brush, the kind of landscape that makes you feel like you've genuinely left civilisation behind. It's a small upland lake in the Denbighshire hills above Ruthin, the sort of place you'd miss entirely if you weren't looking for it. The water sits dark and still most days, reflecting the surrounding slopes, and there's a real sense of remoteness that rewards the effort.

You're looking at an hour-long walk each way from the nearest parking, depending on your fitness and whether you get distracted by the views across the Vale of Clwyd. It's free, naturally - there's nothing to pay. The terrain is moorland rather than woodland, so it's fairly exposed; worth timing for decent weather rather than pushing through mist and drizzle. Kids who enjoy hiking will get something genuine from this, but younger ones might find the walk tedious.

This works well alongside a stay at Clwydian Glamping Pods and Campsite just 4 miles away. That puts you perfectly placed for tackling the lake as a half-day expedition, then exploring Ruthin's market square and independent shops afterwards. The lake itself is best visited between late spring and early autumn when the paths are drier and you might actually enjoy standing about admiring the landscape rather than cursing the mud.