Llanfairpwllgwyngyll

The longest place name in Europe comes with a surprisingly prosaic reality. Beyond the famous railway station sign - all 58 letters of it - Llanfairpwllgwyngyll settles into being a proper working Welsh village on Anglesey's southern coast. The Victorian station master's publicity stunt worked a treat, drawing visitors for over a century to gawk at the unpronounceable name and snap photos by the platform.

Actually staying here puts you right at Anglesey's heart. The Menai Strait sparkles just south, while ancient stones pepper the surrounding countryside - the Maesoglan Standing Stones mark where Bronze Age communities once gathered. St Mary's Church of Llanfair yn y Cwmwd anchors the village proper, its Norman foundations rather more historically significant than the railway gimmick.

Newborough National Nature Reserve spreads across the island's southwestern tip, a proper wilderness of dunes, forest and beach that's well worth the short drive. The forest section alone covers hundreds of acres, perfect for losing yourself among the pines. Llyn Parc Mawr offers gentler walking if the kids are flagging.

Getting here means crossing Thomas Telford's magnificent suspension bridge from the mainland - the A5 runs straight through the village centre. Bangor's your nearest proper town, just 15 minutes east, with decent shopping and the university buzz.

Staying at one of the nearby holiday parks makes perfect sense for exploring Anglesey properly. You're central enough to reach the island's best beaches within half an hour, yet far enough from the tourist honeypots to enjoy some peace. The village itself might be a one-trick pony, but it's surrounded by some of Wales's most unspoiled countryside.