Pen y Bryn Lleyn

It’s a walkers’s paradise in these parts – whether you stroll down to Tudweiliog (40 minutes’ walk) for a pint at the pub, or up your game with a long-distance hike along part of the glorious Wales Coast Path (10 minutes’ drive to pick up the path at Porth Ysgaden), you’ll be rewarded by spectacular views over hills or clifftops. Beach bunnies have a choice of destinations, but if you’d like to have a go at surfing, kayaking or paddleboarding, your best bet is Porth Neigwl (25 minutes), where you can also rent equipment and take lessons. For bucket-and-spade-type family days on the sand, Abersoch (20 minutes) has everything you need, from plenty of space on the sheltered beach to a choice of boat trips. If you’d like to ramp up the cultural kudos of your hols, a day trip to Portmeirion (50 minutes) will see you exploring a colourful seaside village with a madcap, 1920s-built mishmash of Italian, Gothic and Tudor-style architecture. Going back further in time, the magnificent medieval castle at Harlech (an hour) perches on a rocky crag and is open for tours and jousting re-enactments.