Sir Watkin’s Tower (Remains)

There's not much left of Sir Watkin's Tower, to be honest. What remains is a crumbling stone base and a few chunks of wall standing about waist-high on a hillside outside Ruthin, but that's rather the point. This folly was built in the 1820s by Sir Watkin Williams-Wynn as a bit of architectural showing-off, and time has done what time does best - reduced it to atmospheric rubble.

The walk up to it is more rewarding than the site itself. You'll get proper views across Denbighshire on the way, which justifies the trek better than the tower remnants alone ever could. The location is what makes it, really. It's one of those spots where you can understand why someone wanted to build something visible from miles around.

History types will recognise the folly nonsense for what it is - an 19th century vanity project. Kids under ten might lose interest quickly; there's no climbing allowed and no interactivity. But walkers exploring the area around Ruthin will find it a decent waypoint, especially if you're staying at Clwydian Glamping Pods just down the road. Allow an hour round trip if you're combining it with a longer ramble. It costs nothing to visit and there are no set opening hours - you just turn up.

Worth it as a side jaunt if you're in the area. Not worth planning a trip solely around.