St Mary's & St Bodfan’s Church

The dual dedication to St Mary and St Bodfan makes this church unusual - most people won't realise it's actually two saints, not a person with a hyphenated name. Sitting just outside Barmouth in Gwynedd, it's a proper working parish church with the kind of quiet dignity you find in rural North Wales. The building itself is modest, stone-built, the sort of place where you can hear the wind through the eaves and the occasional sheep from the fields outside.

Walkers get the most from this one, frankly. It's not a destination in itself - you won't spend hours here - but it's exactly the kind of stop that makes a ramble through the area feel complete. The churchyard has good views over the valley, and the walk from Barmouth takes about half an hour if you're not in a rush. There's something satisfying about finding these small churches tucked into Welsh hillsides; they feel like they belong there in a way newer buildings never quite manage.

If you're camped at Hendre Mynach or Lyons Sunnysands, both within spitting distance, it's worth a morning wander. The admission's free, as it should be. Go on a clear day - cloud tends to roll in fast up here - and give yourself twenty minutes inside to sit quietly. Don't expect crowds or facilities. This is the kind of place that rewards you for turning up, not for what's written in a guidebook.