Unless you are a very fit walker, it's a really bad idea to just rush up to Wales and to try and climb Cadair Idris (my favourite mountain).

I would suggest you find somewhere good to stay (and places to stay in this are don't come much better than Glan Morfa Bach, in Llanegryn), and go for a series of walks.

These inheritance walks are designed to show you the area, and to develop your strength over, say, a week. If you're really unfit, then do some gentler walks at home before setting off for Wales.

We went up to Wales in October 2009; couldn't stay at Glan Morfa (they won't allow dogs) so stayed instead in Geufron Cottage in Geufron Farm in Bryn Crug, and it was just fine. I've included a couple of walks that are only really appropriate if you're staying in Geufron (because they start at the front door of the cottage). One of them neither of us did (just didn't work out that way) and the other Susan and George did while I tried to recover from food poisoning!