Mynydd Cricor

Climbing Mynydd Cricor from Ruthin gives you a proper workout, but the payoff is worth every panting breath. This isn't some manicured peak with a cafe at the top - it's a working hill that demands respect and rewards effort with genuinely lovely views across Denbighshire and into the Vale of Clwyd.

The ascent takes about forty minutes from the base, depending on fitness and how many times you stop to gasp at the gradient. Once up there, you've got 360-degree visibility on a clear day - the kind of view that makes you understand why people hike. On misty days it's moody and atmospheric, which some folk prefer. The summit itself is moorland rather than dramatic, but the sense of having earned it changes how you experience it.

Walkers absolutely, no question. Families with kids aged ten plus will manage it if they're reasonably active - younger children might struggle with the steepness. History types might find the surrounding landscape interesting, though there's no substantial ruins or archaeology to examine up here. It's about the walk and the vista, not the destination itself.

There's no entrance fee and no visitor facilities, so bring water and sensible boots. Allow two to three hours return, longer if you're taking photos or exploring the moorland properly. If you're staying at Clwydian Glamping Pods just 1.7 miles away, this is an obvious early morning or late afternoon option - close enough for a proper hike without needing a full day out.