Mynydd Carnguwch

The walk up Mynydd Carnguwch from Pwllheli takes you onto a proper little mountain that punches above its weight. It's not high - barely 400 metres - but the views across Cardigan Bay and the Llŷn Peninsula feel properly expansive once you're up there. The ridge walk is the thing: you get a sense of being somewhere proper and wild, even though you're only an hour or so from town.

The ascent is straightforward enough for families with older kids or anyone with reasonable fitness. Took me about 45 minutes up from the nearest car park, with the path well-trodden and obvious underfoot. The final approach steepens a bit, but nothing dramatic. On a clear day the views reward the effort - you can see across to Snowdonia on one side and out to sea on the other.

Timing matters here. Wet weather makes it slick and pointless; go when you've got decent visibility. Early morning gets you away from the school group crowds, and the light on the coast is better anyway. Allow two hours return plus time to sit and stare at the view.

If you're based at one of the caravan parks near Pwllheli - Llwyn Ffynnon is just 2.6 miles away, or closer still at Away From It All - this makes a brilliant half-day outing. Combines well with a beach walk in Pwllheli itself. It's free, it's accessible, and it doesn't feel like you're queuing with hundreds to prove you've been there.