Twr Glanllyn

The walk up Twr Glanllyn from Bala is a proper scramble, but it's only about 1,500 feet so don't let that put you off. You get sweeping views across the Dee Valley and down to Bala Lake - on a clear day it's genuinely excellent. The summit's a bit exposed and rocky, which means it feels more like actual climbing than a gentle hill stroll, but the route from Bala takes maybe ninety minutes up and an hour back down depending on fitness.

Walkers will absolutely have the best time here - it's the kind of peak that rewards effort without demanding serious mountaineering kit. Families with older kids keen on a bit of a challenge will manage fine, though toddlers will struggle with the final stretch. The views are the whole point. There's no shelter or facilities at the top, so bring water and something wind-proof.

If you're basing yourself at Tyn Cornel Camping just up the road, this makes a cracking half-day adventure. Bala itself is busy enough for supplies and a decent pub afterwards. The Dee Valley's gorgeous walking country generally - rolling hills rather than dramatic peaks - so Twr Glanllyn works as a nice punctuation mark if you want to bag something with actual altitude and a sense of achievement. It's not a long slog, but it's steep enough to feel earned.