Maes-Y-Fedw

The walk up Maes-y-Fedw from Bala is one of those climbs that looks deceivingly manageable until you're halfway up realising your calves have other ideas. At 863 metres, it's no giant by Welsh standards, but it's steep enough to earn your views properly.

You're looking at roughly two hours to the summit and back, depending on your fitness and how many times you stop to catch your breath. The path starts forgiving enough, winding through moorland with Bala Lake behind you, then gets increasingly serious as it steepens toward the rocky summit. On a clear day - and these mountains demand you pick a clear day - you can see right across to Snowdonia and down into Merionydd.

This isn't a walk for very young kids or anyone after a gentle stroll. Walkers and hill runners will absolutely get it though. There's something properly satisfying about bagging a peak that doesn't require technical kit or roped sections, just determination and decent boots.

The nearest town is Bala itself, only a few miles away, which makes this ideal if you're based at Tyn Cornel Camping. Head up early to avoid the afternoon mists that roll in properly quick around these parts. Free to walk, obviously - it's a mountain. Bring water though. The summit can feel exposed when the weather turns, which it does without warning.