Pen y Ddinas

The walk up Pen y Ddinas is straightforward enough - a steady pull from Talybont that takes most people around an hour, depending on fitness. You're after a modest peak at 612 metres, nothing that'll leave you gasping, but the views across the Mawddach estuary and down towards Barmouth are genuinely worth the effort. On a clear day you can see right across to the Cadair range. The summit itself is unremarkable - a few rocks, some trig point, nothing fancy - but that's rather the point. What makes this walk is the terrain underfoot and the quiet of it all. The path winds through open moorland and low scrub, and you won't fight crowds here like you might on the more famous peaks nearby.

It's the sort of walk that appeals to families with older kids and regular walkers looking for something achievable without needing rock scrambling skills or hours of daylight. Bring a map, mind - the moorland can look featureless in mist, and mobile signal is patchy. Free, obviously. Allow two hours there and back with a break at the top.

If you're based at Lyons Sunnysands or Rowen Caravan Park - both just over a mile away - this fits perfectly into a morning outing. Pair it with a coastal walk down to Barmouth afterwards, or tackle it as your warm-up before heading south towards Shell Island for the afternoon. It's proper Snowdonia hiking without the ego.