Moel y Gaer

The walk up Moel y Gaer is straightforward enough, but the reward at the top makes it worthwhile. You're climbing to an Iron Age hillfort with proper views across the Clwydian Range - on a clear day you can see right across to the coast. The summit sits at 820 metres, which sounds higher than it feels when you're actually doing it.

From Ruthin, it's a short drive to the trailhead. Most people manage the ascent in under an hour, though you'll want longer at the top to actually take in what you're looking at. The earthworks are still obvious even after two thousand years - you can trace the ramparts quite clearly if you walk the perimeter. It's the kind of place where history feels tangible rather than something explained on a plaque.

Families with reasonably fit kids will find it manageable. Younger children might struggle with the steeper sections near the top, but it's not technical walking. Walkers after genuine views without the crowds will love it - this isn't one of the honeypot peaks. The landscape around here is properly dramatic, all rolling moorland and distant ridges.

If you're staying at Clwydian Glamping Pods nearby, this is exactly the sort of half-day outing that justifies a park holiday in North Wales. Go mid-week in autumn when the light is best and you'll likely have the hilltop to yourself. Spring wildflowers are decent too. Allow three hours return if you're taking it steady.