Pen-y-gaer

The climb up this modest peak above Conwy rewards you with proper views across the Conwy Valley and out to Anglesey on a clear day. Pen-y-gaer translates roughly as 'hill of the fort', and you can still make out the remains of an Iron Age hillfort at the summit - just low stone ramparts and earthworks now, but atmospheric enough when the mist rolls in.

Walkers will find this a satisfying half-day trek from Conwy town centre. The path winds steadily upward through bracken and gorse, nothing too taxing but steep enough to get your heart rate up. Allow three hours return if you're taking your time and soaking up those views.

Families with older children who don't mind a proper walk will enjoy this one, though it's probably not suitable for pushchairs or very little ones. The reward at the top makes the effort worthwhile - on good days you can see right across to Snowdonia's peaks.

Staying at one of the nearby sites like Cefn Cae Campsite or Wern Farm makes this an easy morning expedition. The beauty is that it's free, always open, and never crowded like some of the more famous Welsh peaks. Just check the weather first - those views disappear quickly when the clouds roll in from the Irish Sea.