Pen Y Gop

The walk up Pen Y Gop from Bala is straightforward enough, and that's rather the point. You're looking at a proper fell with views that punch well above its modest 600-metre height - the kind of summit where you can actually see what you've climbed. The path itself is well-trodden but never tedious, and the whole thing takes a couple of hours return from the town.

What makes it worth the detour is the position. Standing at the top, Bala Lake spreads out below like someone's dropped a sheet of grey silk into the valley, and on a clear day you're scanning across half of North Wales. The Aran range sits to the north, proper mountains that make Pen Y Gop feel like its modest older sibling - but that's not a complaint. Sometimes the best views come from somewhere you can actually reach without technical gear and a rope.

It's ideal for walkers who don't want to commit to a full day expedition but still want to feel like they've done something. Families with reasonably fit kids will manage it without drama. The summit can be windswept even when the valley's calm, so bring a proper jacket regardless of what the forecast suggests.

If you're camped at Tyn Cornel just down the road, this is a cracking morning or afternoon activity that leaves you home in time for a decent meal. Free, obviously - just park sensibly in Bala and go.