Mynydd Egryn South Top

The walk up Mynydd Egryn's south top isn't a gruelling scramble - it's a steady, proper climb that takes about an hour from Barmouth and rewards you with views across Cardigan Bay that stretch for miles. On a clear day you can see straight across to the Llyn peninsula, and if you time it right, the light hits the water like someone's switched on a lamp.

It's the kind of walk that suits families with older kids or anyone who fancies a decent leg-stretch without needing ropes or specialist kit. The route itself isn't particularly technical, though it does get boggy in patches after rain, so decent boots matter more than scrambling experience. Allow two to three hours for the round trip if you're not hurrying.

Barmouth itself sits right at the foot of the hills, so if you're staying at one of the caravan parks nearby - Hendre Mynach is closest at just over a mile out - you could do this as a half-day outing and still have time for lunch back in town. The peak isn't dramatic in the way Snowdon is, but that's partly the point. You get the walking and the views without the crowds.

Go on a weekday if you can, when the paths are quieter. Summer's pleasant enough, but autumn brings clearer air and better visibility. Winter can be slippery underfoot, so it's not the time for this one unless you know what you're doing.