Mynydd Cwm-mynach

The walk up Mynydd Cwm-mynach from Dolgellau isn't long, but it's steep enough to make you earn the view. This is proper hill-walking territory in Gwynedd - nothing manicured, nothing softened for tourists. You're looking at a couple of hours up and back if you're reasonably fit, less if you're quick on your feet.

What you get at the top is a working Welsh hillside vista. No café, no visitor centre, no marked trails with interpretive boards. Just open moorland, the sweep of the Cader Idris massif in the distance, and on a clear day, sight lines that reach toward the coast. The peak itself sits around 600 metres, so the climb is manageable for most walkers, though it demands proper boots and respect for the weather - this area gets wet and windy fast.

This appeals to hill-walkers and anyone who wants their mountain experience without the crowds you'd find on the main peaks nearby. Families with older kids (say, 10 and up) who don't mind mud will manage fine. Young children or reluctant walkers? They'll find it a slog.

Dolgellau makes a solid base - it's got accommodation and shops - but if you're staying in one of the camping parks dotted around the area like Graig Wen or Hendre Mynach, you're perfectly placed for a half-day wander. Combine it with the Rhaeadr Nantcol Waterfalls walk just down the road, and you've got a proper morning sorted. Free to walk, naturally. Just turn up.