Camfa Derw

The walk up to Camfa Derw from Blaenau Ffestiniog is steep and a bit muddy underfoot, but the payoff is genuine. You're standing on a ridge with views that stretch across the Snowdonia valleys - proper wild landscape, all grey peaks and moorland. The rock outcrop itself isn't massive, but it's a proper vantage point, the kind of place where you can actually see what the mountains are doing rather than just walking through them.

It's a walker's destination, no question. This isn't a five-minute stroll with a gift shop at the end. Allow a good couple of hours from town, depending on your fitness level and how often you stop for breath. The route follows footpaths that locals actually use - you'll likely see sheep, maybe a hint of why Snowdonia was worth all this fuss back when people first mapped it.

Bring proper boots. The ground's unforgiving when it's wet, and it's wet more often than not up here. There's no cafe, no facilities, so pack water and something to eat if you're making a day of it. If you're based at Llyn Gwynant Campsite just up the valley, you're perfectly placed for an early start when the light's best. Even Llechwedd Glamping isn't far, so you could do this as a morning excursion before heading to the slate mines or wherever else takes your fancy. Free to visit - the hills don't charge.