Pen yr Helgi Du

The walk up Pen yr Helgi Du from Llanfairfechan takes about ninety minutes if you're moving at a decent pace, and it's one of those peaks that rewards the effort without requiring technical climbing gear. You're looking at roughly 500 metres of ascent through heather and broken terrain, with a final push up loose scree that's a bit annoying underfoot but manageable. The view from the top sprawls across the Conwy Valley and towards Snowdonia - on a clear day you get proper sightlines all the way to the bigger mountains. Walkers will find this one genuinely worth the detour. It's not crowded like some of the more famous peaks, which means you might actually hear yourself think up there. The summit itself is relatively exposed, so bring a windproof if the weather's turned. Allow three to four hours total if you want to potter about at the top and take photographs without feeling rushed. Families with kids aged ten plus can manage it fine, though younger ones might struggle with motivation on the loose sections. The peak sits perfectly into a wider walking holiday around Conwy - you can easily combine it with days at nearby Ogwen Bank Caravan and Lodge Park or the highly-rated Maenan Abbey Caravan Park just up the valley. Both offer decent bases for exploring this corner of North Wales. Early autumn tends to be the sweet spot: the light's golden, the midges have calmed down, and you'll avoid the summer school holiday crowds that pile into these hills.