Penarth Fawr

The walk up to Penarth Fawr from Pwllheli rewards you with views across the Llŷn Peninsula that make the climb genuinely worthwhile. It's not a lengthy slog - most people manage the ascent in under an hour - but it's steep enough to get the heart going and remind you why you came.

What you find at the top is a proper Iron Age hillfort, the kind of place where you stand and imagine the settlement that once clustered here. The ramparts are still visible, worn by centuries but unmistakable. On a clear day, you can see right across to Cardigan Bay. On a grey one, which is fairly likely in North Wales, the mist adds a certain drama to the whole affair.

Walkers will get the most from this. History buffs too, though the site itself is quite bare - there's no visitor centre, no interpretation panels. You're essentially reading the landscape. Families with younger children might find the effort-to-reward ratio a bit off unless they're keen hikers already.

It's free to access, and there's limited parking near the trailhead. Go early to avoid the small crowds that build up on decent weekends. The walk is fine year-round, though autumn is especially good.

If you're based at Haven Hafan y Môr or Llwyn Ffynnon just down the road, Penarth Fawr makes a proper half-day trip. Pair it with a wander round Pwllheli's harbour afterwards and you've got a solid day sorted.