Caernarfon

Those towering walls catch your eye long before you reach town - and they should. Caernarfon Castle is a proper medieval show-stopper, a World Heritage site where Prince Charles was invested in 1969 and where the polygonal towers have been watching over the Menai Strait for seven centuries. The whole place feels dramatically Welsh, perched at the edge of Snowdonia with the mountains rising behind and water stretching toward Anglesey.

Most visitors make a beeline for the castle, but there's more to uncover. The Roman Bath House reveals the town's ancient roots, while Gadlys archaeological site hints at even older stories. For something completely different, Pablo and Oriel Pendeitsh galleries showcase contemporary Welsh art in converted spaces that feel refreshingly modern against all that medieval stone.

Walk down to Caernarfon Marina and the atmosphere shifts entirely. It's peaceful here, with boats bobbing and views across to the island. Twt Hill offers cracking panoramas if you fancy a short climb - the whole of Snowdonia spreads out before you.

Getting here couldn't be simpler. Caernarfon station sits right on the town's doorstep, with regular services from Bangor and connections to the narrow-gauge Welsh Highland Railway for a scenic route through Snowdonia. The A487 brings drivers straight in from all directions.

There's something rather brilliant about staying at one of the nearby parks like Glan Gwna Holiday Park or Plas Gwyn Caravan & Camping Park. You get the best of both worlds - easy access to Caernarfon's historical treasures and the freedom to explore Snowdonia's peaks, Anglesey's beaches, and the string of coastal villages that dot this magnificent stretch of North Wales.