Ynys Faig Farm

Barmouth (half an hour's drive) is more than the mouth of a river, of course: the beach is a hit with families and paddleboarders, and the harbour has boat trips to see the seal colonies and dolphin pods. If you're chasing bigger thrills on water, make a beeline for the National White Water Centre, 40 minutes away at Bala, for kayaking and rafting. A 50-minute drive away, Zip World Slate Caverns in Blaenau Ffestiniog gives you the white-knuckle experience at height, flying through former slate quarries. For a quieter experience, drive for under five minutes to the paths to Blue Lake, where the mineral-rich waters are a truly remarkable colour. (The rocks around the lake can be slippy so unless you're a medal-winning wild swimmer, maybe save your breaststroke for the beach.) If you want to spend more time on the coastline, head 20 minutes to Dolgellau for the Mawddach Trail, nine miles of nature-filled peace along a former railway line, landing handily back in Barmouth for a paddle and an ice cream (or a chicken tikka at the town's tandoori). For heights, wilderness and true solitude, paths up Penygader mountain start 45 minutes' drive away.