Ynys Galch

Scrambling up rocky slopes through heather and bracken, you'll find Ynys Galch offers proper hill walking without the crowds that swarm Snowdon. This modest peak sits just outside Porthmadog, giving you decent views across the Glaslyn estuary and out towards Cardigan Bay on a clear day.

Walkers looking for a half-day adventure will get the most from this one. The route isn't waymarked, so you'll need decent map-reading skills and sturdy boots - the terrain gets boggy in places and the final approach involves some easy scrambling over granite slabs. Allow three to four hours for the round trip from the nearest parking spot.

Families with older children who are confident on rough ground might enjoy the challenge, though little ones will struggle with the pathless sections. The summit itself is fairly unremarkable - no dramatic precipices or mountain café - but the sense of having earned your lunch stop makes up for it.

Staying at one of the nearby parks like Haven Greenacres or Black Rock Sands puts you within easy reach of both this peak and the more famous attractions around Snowdonia. It's a good warm-up walk if you're planning bigger hills later in the week, or a satisfying alternative when the weather's closed in on the higher peaks.