Pen y Drum

The walk up Pen y Drum rewards you with views across the Conwy Valley that justify every huffing step. It's not a brutal climb - more a steady pull through woodland before the ridge opens up and you can actually see why you bothered. On a clear day, you're looking out toward Snowdonia's bigger peaks, and honestly, that's when you understand the geography of North Wales properly.

This one's for walkers who want proper exercise without needing crampons and a rope. You'll need two to three hours depending on fitness and whether you dawdle at the top, which you absolutely should. The path is straightforward enough - nothing technical - though it gets muddy after rain like everything does in Wales. Starting from near Llanrwst, it's accessible enough for most people with decent boots and a bit of determination.

Families with older kids will find it satisfying rather than tedious. Younger children might struggle with the distance, though there's a real sense of achievement when they reach the summit. History buffs won't find much except the landscape itself - this is about the walk, not the layers of stuff underneath.

If you're based at one of the nearby caravan parks - Maenan Abbey or Erw Glas are both excellent - Pen y Drum makes a cracking half-day outing that gets you properly away from the pitches. It's free, naturally, and best tackled early to beat any afternoon cloud rolling in from the west.