Pen Celyn

The walk up Pen Celyn from Chester side takes about forty minutes if you're moving at a decent pace, and the effort pays off proper. You're looking at views across the Dee Valley that stretch for miles - on a clear day you can see right across into Wales, which is rather the point since technically you're already there. The summit sits at 207 metres, nothing dramatic in Alpine terms, but from down here it feels like actual altitude.

It's a solid choice for walkers who fancy something with a bit of grit but don't want to spend the whole afternoon on their feet. Families with kids aged eight upwards will manage it fine, though younger ones might grumble on the steeper sections. The path itself is well-trodden and reasonably clear, though it can get boggy after rain - proper walking boots aren't fancy here, they're necessary.

The area works brilliantly if you're based at one of the glamping spots nearby like Honeypot Hideaways or Willow Farm. Either makes a cracking base for a long weekend exploring North Wales without the hassle of caravanning. Do Pen Celyn in the morning when it's quieter, then spend the afternoon pottering around Chester itself - the walls are worth a wander and there's decent cafes once you've worked up an appetite.

Free to access, no visitor facilities on the hill itself. Allow two to three hours return including time at the top for a breather.