Moelwyn Bach

The walk up Moelwyn Bach from Blaenau Ffestiniog is proper steep, but the payoff is genuine - you get proper views across the slate quarries and down into the valleys without the crowds you'd find on the bigger peaks nearby. It's a real fell rather than a tourist tick, which means you might share the summit with fell runners and the occasional shepherd, not coach parties.

Allow about two hours there and back if you're reasonably fit. The terrain shifts from woodland paths to open moorland, and the final push up loose scree demands decent boots. In wet weather it turns into a muddy slog, so aim for a dry spell if you can. The reward isn't some manicured viewpoint - it's proper solitude and clear sightlines back towards Snowdon on a decent day.

Families with younger kids might find it frustrating. There's no cafe at the top, no facilities, and nowhere to shelter if the weather turns. Experienced walkers and peak-baggers will love it though. It's free to access, naturally - you're just walking up a hillside.

If you're based at one of the campsites nearby - Llechwedd Glamping and Bryn Dinas are closest - Moelwyn Bach makes a cracking half-day outing before or after exploring the Ffestiniog Railway. It's the kind of walk that feels like you've actually accomplished something, rather than just ticked a box.