Moel Llechwedd-gwyn

The walk up Moel Llechwedd-gwyn isn't what you'd call a polished tourist experience. There's no visitor centre, no café at the top, no Instagram moment waiting for you - just a proper Welsh peak that gives you what you earn. Starting from the Blaenau Ffestiniog side, the path climbs steeply through moorland, and you'll understand why the slate miners who worked these hills were such hardy types.

What makes it worth the effort is the view south across the Snowdonia heartland. On a clear day you can trace the contours of half the national park from up there. The summit itself is modest - no trig point drama - but the solitude more than compensates. You rarely see crowds here, even during peak season. Allow a good two hours for the round trip if you're coming from town, though walkers tackling it as part of a longer moorland circuit often barely notice the time.

Families with younger legs will find it too steep and unrewarding for the climb time. Proper fell walkers will rate it as a solid morning's work. History types might get something extra knowing Blaenau Ffestiniog's slate quarries once fed the world, though the mountain itself doesn't tell that story visually.

If you're staying at Llechwedd Glamping just down the road, it's an excellent excuse to get into the hills properly. Go early to catch the light right, and bring waterproofs - weather changes fast up here.