Ynyshir Farm

Forever being invaded and defended, it’s castle country round here: 12th-century Denbigh Castle (20 minutes' drive) is at the ghostly ruin end of the scale, while mighty Conwy (40 minutes) looks like it’s still ready to see off a rebel army. If you’re into active stuff, try whizzing down the slopes of Llandudno Ski and Snowboard Centre (40 minutes) or whizzing at great height and velocity down the wires at one of the Zip World sites: Betws-y-Coed and Penrhyn Quarry are both an hour away. Brought your walking boots? There’s an easy but rewarding trail to the waterfall at Dyserth,10 minutes away; for longer wanders in Eryri (Snowdonia) National Park, it’s an hour’s journey to the start of trails up Carnedd Llewelyn and to Aber Falls. (If you want the heights without straining the hooves, loaf over to Llanberis, an hour away and take the Snowdon Mountain Railway to the top of Wales’ highest peak; you could always walk back down…) If you like a bit of wildlife with your walks, trips up and around the Great Orme headland just above Llandudno (40 minutes) are often likely to be accompanied by sightings of sea birds and even seagoing porpoises. If you want to meet some more exotic beasts close up, it’s a similar distance to the sea lions, sea eagles and Sumatran tigers of the Welsh Mountain Zoo.