Llyn Bogelyn

The water here is properly dark - almost black when the light goes in - and ringed by rough moorland that feels genuinely remote despite being just a few miles from Caernarfon. Llyn Bogelyn is a small mountain lake that most tourists miss entirely, which is exactly why it's worth the detour.

You won't find much infrastructure. There's parking nearby and a decent footpath that loops the water, taking about forty minutes at a leisurely pace. The walk itself is the main event - moorland stretching in all directions, the kind of landscape that makes you understand why people used to think it was haunted. Bring proper boots. It gets boggy, and the ground is uneven enough to trip the careless.

This is walker territory, plain and simple. Families with young kids might find it a bit bleak and repetitive, though stronger walkers aged nine or ten would likely enjoy the sense of being properly out there. There's minimal signage and no visitor facilities, so come prepared with water and a map.

What makes it work is the solitude. You might see another person, or you might not. The views aren't dramatic - no jagged peaks - but there's something about the emptiness that sticks with you. If you're staying at Coed Helen Holiday Park or Anglesey Holiday Pods, it's close enough for a half-day trip that actually feels like an escape rather than a tick-box walk.