Moel Bach

The walk up Moel Bach from Porthmadog takes about forty minutes if you're steady on your feet, and the payoff is a proper little viewpoint over the Snowdonia foothills and across to the coast. It's not a big mountain - 564 metres - so don't expect anything dramatic, but on a clear day the perspective across North Wales is genuinely worth the effort.

The route itself is straightforward woodland to start, then opens out onto moorland with good paths marked through. You'll pass old slate workings on the way up, a reminder that this area was once all about extraction rather than recreation. The summit cairn isn't huge, but it sits high enough to feel like you've accomplished something.

This is walker territory rather than a family afternoon out. Kids under ten might struggle with the sustained climb, and there's nothing at the top except views and grass - no café, no facilities. Bring water. The best time is late morning when the light's coming from behind you and the haze hasn't burnt off completely.

If you're staying at Black Rock Sands or Glan-y-Môr just down the road from Porthmadog, Moel Bach makes an easy half-day escape from the caravan. It's close enough that you won't spend half your morning driving, but far enough up to feel like proper mountain time. The descent is quicker than you'd expect, so you're back for lunch without complaint.