Tomen-y-Faerdre

A steep grassy mound crowned with the faint traces of a medieval castle might not sound thrilling, but Tomen-y-Faerdre near Ruthin tells a proper Welsh story. This is a motte-and-bailey castle, one of those Norman earthworks thrown up after 1066 to hold down conquered territory. What you get is the mound itself - about thirty metres high - and the chance to scramble up and look around what remains of the fortifications.

The views across Denbighshire from the top are genuine compensation for the climb. On a clear day you can see across the Vale of Clwyd towards the Clwydian Range. The site is free and open whenever, which is the way these things should be. Allow an hour if you're making a proper afternoon of it, twenty minutes if you just want the walk and the view.

Historically minded adults will get more from this than families with small children - there's not much to do once you've reached the summit, and the scramble up can be muddy after rain. It's the sort of place that works well slotted into a wider wandering around Ruthin's medieval streets and castle ruins, rather than a destination in itself.

If you're staying at Clwydian Glamping Pods, you're only five miles away, making this a decent morning outing before heading into town for lunch. It's the kind of walk that reminds you why the Norman invaders needed so many castles - they had to be placed somewhere strategic, and this spot certainly qualifies.