There is something about the great outdoors that holds a fascination for my family.

I have often considered the fact that we could save an awful lot of money by selling our house and living in a tent.

I’m fairly sure that the boys at least would love this.

At Easter we had set ourselves a family challenge of climbing Snowdon, the highest mountain in Wales.

Admittedly, Snowdon’s peak if a far cry from Everest, a hill rather than a mountain in reality, but hard enough for us to feel a sense of achievement.

Despite the fact that as a family, we often adopt a “wing it” approach to activities, we actually spent a fair bit of time researching the route, the kit and the conditions, while bearing in mind that ensuring we got all three boys to the top was likely to rely quite heavily on bribery.

Never before have we been so prepared.

So on Easter Sunday, as children around the country were waking to Easter eggs, our three were packing rucksacks with Kendal Mint Cake, along with a wide selection of Tesco’s finest confectionary.

I’m not sure if it was the thrill of the challenge or the thought of the all-day sugar fest that inspired them.

Having been told numerous stories of the freezing conditions at the top of a mountain and just how quickly the weather can change, we were fully prepared with hats, gloves, waterproofs and a million carefully chosen layers.

There is no denying the scenery is Snowdonia is utterly spectacular.

Rolling green hills, glassy lakes and vast expanses of nothing are hard not be inspired by.

As the early morning fog slowly lifted and the sun came out, it became clear that there was a distinct possibility we had over prepared.

Twenty minutes into the walk and we had shed almost every layer which now needed to be carried, but nevertheless, spirits were high.

Thirty minutes in and the first bag of jelly babies was devoured but we did at least manage to hold off a whole hour before stopping for lunch.

It also appeared that we had not been alone in the quest for Wales’s highest peak, a sunny bank holiday had clearly brought out most of the country, who frankly seemed to be much better prepared for the near-tropical conditions than we were.

Although Snowdon may not be particularly impressive in height or difficulty, but it was harder than I had thought and thankfully, after a 3.5 hour slow trudge, the summit came into view.

The progress of Charlie, our youngest had been slow to say the least, but we made it.

There’s a certain irony in following a train track up the mountain and watching the crowd disembark 200 metres from the top.

I would admit that just for a fleeting moment, I did feel a pang of envy.

About 20 minutes at the top and enough photos to fill a family album and we had to break it to Charlie that being only half way through the walk, we still had to get back down.

Thank goodness for wine gums, Skittles and Haribo.

I may be a dentist, but sometimes there is just no better alternative to a pound of sugar.

After seven hours and 13 long miles, we did it.

Been there, got the T-shirt and had successfully inspired three little boys to climb more mountains.

I don’t think we’re quite ready for Everest but it’s amazing what a bag of sweets will do...