Tryfan

Tryfan dominates the Snowdonia skyline like nothing else - a proper mountain, not a gentle hill. At 915 metres, it's the highest peak in North Wales outside Snowdon itself, and the climb rewards you with views that stretch all the way to the Irish Sea on a clear day.

The ascent takes around two hours each way from the Ogwen Valley car park. It's steep, rocky, and demands decent boots and a head for heights. The final push involves scrambling up loose scree and navigating through the rocks - it's exhilarating rather than technical, but it's absolutely not a walk. Kids aged ten and up manage it fine if they're used to hills, but younger ones will find the scrambling sections tricky.

What makes Tryfan special is the twin peaks at the summit - Adam and Eve - where walkers traditionally jump between the two rocks. Sounds daft, but it's become a rite of passage, and the drop between them isn't as bad as it looks. The views themselves justify every painful step: Snowdon looms to the south, while Tryfan Bach sits below like a warm-up act.

If you're based at one of the campsites near Llanberis or Llyn Gwynant, Tryfan works brilliantly as a proper day out. Pair it with Snowdon for a two-peak assault, or combine it with a morning at Llanberis Lake for a full day in the mountains. Start early - the car park fills by mid-morning in summer. Free to climb, and you'll need three to four hours total with time at the top.