Mynydd y Waun

The walk up Mynydd y Waun from Dolgellau is proper steep in places, but the effort pays off with views that reach right across to Cadair Idris and beyond. It's not a particularly long climb - most people do it in under two hours - but the gradient means you'll feel it in your legs. The summit itself is moorland rather than dramatic, with the trig point marking the top, but stand there on a clear day and you understand why people keep coming back.

This is walker territory first and foremost. Families with young kids might find the steeper sections a bit much on the way down, and it's not the sort of place you'd stop to have a picnic for hours. But if you're based at Torrent Walk Campsite or Llwyn yr Helm just outside town, it makes an excellent half-day outing, especially if the weather's behaving itself.

Free to do, naturally. Start early if you're going in summer - the car park near the trailhead fills up by mid-morning. The moorland can be boggy lower down after rain, so decent boots matter more than trainers. Allow three hours if you're not rushed, longer if you want to sit about enjoying the views. Winter crowds here are virtually non-existent, but the wind gets properly howling, and visibility can disappear entirely. Spring and early autumn are the sweet spot - dry underfoot most days, fewer people, and the light lasts long enough for an evening ascent if you fancy it.