Llyn Tan y Graig

You'll find this modest lake tucked into the hills above Dolgellau, a proper jewel if you know where to look. Llyn Tan y Graig sits in that fold of landscape where the Cader Idris massif starts to loom properly, and the water reflects the whole lot back at you on a clear day.

It's a walker's destination more than anything else. The lake itself won't take you hours - you can circle it in an afternoon if the mood takes - but it's the approach that matters. Getting there means leaving the main roads behind, which is half the appeal. The water is peaceful, ringed by trees and moorland, the kind of place where the only sound is whatever you bring with you.

Families with older kids will manage fine if they've got the legs for it. Younger children might find the walk in more interesting than the lake itself, to be honest. History types won't find much to chew on here - it's a natural feature, not a constructed attraction - but if you're into wild landscapes and how they've shaped the region, that's another story.

There's no charge, no visitor centre, no facilities. Bring what you need. The best time is dawn or late afternoon when the light hits those hillsides properly and the place feels genuinely remote.

Stay at Llwyn yr Helm Caravan and Camping Park just outside Dolgellau - only four miles away - and you've got a solid base for exploring this part of Snowdonia. You can tackle Cader Idris the next day without breaking a sweat.