Royal St. David's Golf Club

One of Wales' most dramatic golf courses sits on the edge of Harlech, where the fairways roll down towards Cardigan Bay and Snowdonia looms across the water. Royal St. David's is the sort of place that makes non-golfers stop and stare - the views alone are worth the detour, even if you're not swinging a club.

This is proper links golf, the kind where the sea wind is a genuine hazard and the rough is actually rough. The course demands respect. It's been here since 1894, which means the landscape has aged into it rather than the other way around. If you're a golfer, you'll know the reputation already. If you're not, the clubhouse sits perched with views that stretch for miles - most clubs are generous about letting visitors wander the grounds and grab a drink without playing a round.

The setting is what gets you. Harlech Castle dominates the skyline, and the whole coastline curves away below. You could easily spend an afternoon here even without a handicap, walking the perimeter and soaking it in.

Staying nearby is straightforward - Castle View Caravan Park is practically on the doorstep, while Min-y-don and Woodlands are equally close if you want a holiday base. Shell Island, a couple of miles south, offers something different if you want to combine a few days exploring the coast. Spring and summer are best for visiting; winter winds here aren't for the faint-hearted.