Llyn Tegid

Wales's largest natural lake stretches for four miles through the Snowdonia foothills, and standing at Bala's waterfront you get the immediate sense of something genuinely substantial. Llyn Tegid - or Bala Lake if you're after the English name - is the sort of place that rewards a proper exploration rather than a quick glance from the car park.

The water itself is cold, clear, and deep enough that local legend insists a submerged city lies at the bottom. Whether you believe that or not, the lake has serious appeal for walkers, kayakers, and anyone after a bit of peace away from the usual tourist trails. The shoreline path offers decent rambles in either direction, and on a clear day the views back towards the mountains justify the effort. Most people base themselves in Bala town itself, though Tyn Cornel Camping sits just three miles south and gives you direct access to the water.

It's not a dramatic landscape - nothing jaw-dropping in the Swiss Alps sense - but it's properly Welsh in character, with gentle hills rolling down to the shore and nothing too demanding underfoot. Families with younger kids will find the easier sections along the north bank manageable enough, though it's walkers and water sports enthusiasts who'll get the most from it. Bring binoculars if you're into birds; the lake attracts some decent populations depending on season.

No entry fee, obviously - it's a natural lake. Allow a couple of hours minimum if you're planning a walk, longer if you fancy kayaking or just sitting around watching the light change across the water.