Llyn y Gafr

The walk to Llyn y Gafr rewards you with something properly special - a mountain lake that sits high enough to feel remote, yet close enough to Dolgellau that you won't need a full day to get there and back. The water is clear and cold, reflecting the bare rock faces around it, and on a good day the light does something almost theatrical with the surrounding peaks.

This is walkers' territory, no question about it. The approach isn't a gentle stroll - you're climbing into real hill country - but once you arrive the effort pays off. There's something about reaching a lake like this under your own steam that day-trippers on easier routes just don't get. Photographers will have a field day, especially in late afternoon when the shadows deepen across the water.

The lake sits in Gwynedd's heart, about 3 to 4 miles from Dolgellau depending on which approach you take. Allow a solid three hours return if you're not particularly quick on hills, longer if you want to linger and soak it in. It's free, naturally - there's no car park or facilities, just rough access, so come prepared.

If you're camping at Torrent Walk Campsite or Llwyn yr Helm nearby, this makes a cracking half-day expedition from either base. Combine it with other walks in the Cader Idris massif and you've got a proper mountain holiday without needing to venture far from your pitch.