Bryn Castell

The walk up Bryn Castell from Caernarfon is a proper little workout, but the views across the Menai Strait and towards Snowdonia make it worth the huffing and puffing. It's not a particularly long climb - most people manage it in under an hour - but the path can be muddy and steep in places, so decent boots are essential rather than optional.

Once you're up there, you get sweeping views that stretch across to Anglesey on a clear day. The peak itself isn't dramatic or particularly high compared to its bigger neighbours, but that's rather the point. It's the sort of walk that works brilliantly as a warm-up hike if you're based in the area, or as something to fill a morning before heading elsewhere.

Families with older kids will manage fine here. Younger children might find the climb tedious, and there's nothing at the top except the view and a bit of scrambling about. Serious walkers often combine this with other peaks in the area as part of a longer circuit.

It's completely free and open access, which is lovely. The nearest proper base would be one of the campsites clustered around here - Bryn Dinas or Cae Du are just a mile or two away and make sensible starting points. Allow a couple of hours if you're taking your time and stopping for the views. Best visited when the weather's playing ball; mist makes it a bit pointless.