Snowdon View

The drive up to Snowdon View near Ruthin is half the battle, and honestly, it's worth every pothole. You're climbing into proper hill country, and suddenly the whole of North Wales opens out beneath you - Snowdon itself dominates the view if the weather plays ball, sitting there like someone's shifted a mountain just slightly to the left of where it should be.

It's a straightforward viewpoint rather than a destination with facilities or activities. You pull in, get out, and look. The Clwydian Range spreads across one side, and on a clear day you can see for miles - that kind of view that makes you understand why people chose to live in these valleys centuries ago. On a grey day, mind you, it's frankly a bit grim and you'll leave thinking you've seen better.

Walkers benefit most from this spot. It's the sort of place you stop on a longer route through the hills rather than drive to specifically, though if you're based at Clwydian Glamping Pods and Campsite just down the road, it's an easy detour. Allow twenty minutes to half an hour - enough time to take it in, snap a photo, maybe have a sit-down if you've brought a flask.

Best visited early morning or late afternoon when the light's interesting and you've got a fighting chance of avoiding other people. Midday, especially weekends, gets busy with the Instagram crowd. Free, obviously - it's a layby with a view.