Welshpool & Llanfair Railway Preservation Co Ltd

Narrow-gauge trains rattle through the Welsh countryside on a line that closed to passengers in 1956 and was brought back to life by enthusiasts decades later. The Welshpool & Llanfair Railway runs vintage carriages from Welshpool station down to Llanfair Caereinion, a journey of about eight miles through proper rural Mid Wales terrain - rolling farmland, wooded valleys, the works. You sit in restored vintage stock and watch the landscape drift by at a gentle pace. It's the sort of place that appeals most to railway buffs and families with young children who find the whole business of steam and wheels genuinely thrilling. Older kids might find it a touch slow unless they're already into heritage railways.

The route takes about an hour one way, and you can walk around Llanfair Caereinion at the terminus - a small market town with the usual Welsh village amenities - before catching a train back. Summer weekends are when the railway runs most frequently. Admission isn't free, but it's reasonably priced for what you get.

If you're staying at one of the caravan parks nearby - Derwen Mill Holiday Park and Severn Caravan Resort are both within two miles - this makes for a decent half-day outing without being a major expedition. It pairs well with walks in the surrounding countryside rather than as the centrepiece of your break. The narrow-gauge charm is real enough, but don't expect theme park thrills. Go for the leisurely pace and a bit of nostalgic railway romance.