Mynydd Nodol

The walk up Mynydd Nodol from Bala takes about an hour if you're moving at a decent pace, and the views across the Dee Valley make it absolutely worth the effort. It's not a technical scramble - just a steady climb through moorland with decent paths most of the way - but it's proper exposed when the wind picks up, so don't underestimate it in poor weather.

What you get at the top is that rare thing: a genuinely expansive view without needing to drive for three hours first. You can see right across to the Arans on a clear day, and Bala Lake spreads out below like someone's arranged it specifically for your benefit. The peak itself is modest, nothing dramatic, but that's almost the point - it feels like a real hill, not a tourist attraction.

Walkers will appreciate this one. Families with older kids can manage it easily enough, though younger legs might find the descent tedious. History types won't find much - there's no trig point or ancient anything - but if you're staying at Tyn Cornel Camping just down the road, this is exactly the sort of morning or afternoon outing that justifies a Welsh holiday. You're close enough to Bala town for tea and cake afterwards, which matters more than people admit.

Go early if you can. By midday in summer, it gets surprisingly busy for what's technically just a hillside.