Maesglase (Craig Rhiw-erch)

The walk up Maesglase takes about ninety minutes from the car park near Dolgellau, and it's one of those hills that sneaks up on you. Not particularly high at 610 metres, but the views from the top stretch across to Cader Idris and beyond - proper views that make the leg-burn worth it. The path itself is straightforward enough, though it gets boggy in places and you'll want decent boots if it's been wet.

This isn't the sort of peak that draws crowds, which is precisely why it's worth doing. You get the satisfaction of a real walk without the shoulder-to-shoulder experience of the honeypots. Families with older kids will manage it fine, though younger ones might find the final push tedious. History buffs will appreciate the Celtic heritage of the region, though there's nothing ancient to see up here - the reward is landscape, not archaeology.

Free to walk, naturally, and you can spend as long as you fancy on top. Allow three hours there and back if you're taking it steady. The terrain is typical mid-Wales moorland - heather, grass, the occasional rocky outcrop.

If you're basing yourself at Llwyn yr Helm Caravan and Camping Park, just three and a half miles away, Maesglase makes an excellent morning excursion before heading to better-known spots. Torrent Walk Campsite is another option nearby if you're planning multiple days of walking. Weather permitting, do it early in the day - the views clear considerably by mid-morning.