Moelfre

The sound of waves crashing against weathered rocks announces your arrival long before you spot the harbour. This Anglesey fishing village perches on the island's eastern coast, where centuries of Atlantic storms have carved dramatic limestone cliffs and scattered boulders across pristine sandy beaches.

Moelfre village itself is proper seaside Wales - a handful of whitewashed cottages, a working harbour where crab boats still bring in their catch, and the constant cry of gulls overhead. The coastal path here is absolutely cracking, winding past the RNLI station and offering views across to the Snowdonia peaks on clear days. Lligwy Beach stretches just north of the village, a lovely curve of golden sand backed by dunes, with the Lligwy Beach Cafe serving up decent Welsh cakes and proper cups of tea.

Walkers come here for the Anglesey Coastal Path, which hugs the shoreline past ancient burial chambers and Iron Age settlements. The geology is fascinating - layers of limestone and shale tell the story of ancient seas, while rockpools at low tide reveal crabs, anemones and the odd lobster.

Getting here requires a bit of planning. Bangor is your nearest proper town with rail links, then it's a 45-minute drive across the Menai Bridge and through Anglesey's patchwork countryside. The A5025 coastal road winds through small villages where Welsh is still the first language in the corner shops.

Staying at one of the nearby caravan parks makes perfect sense for exploring this stretch of coast. You're within walking distance of some of Wales' finest beaches, yet close enough to venture inland to Beaumaris Castle or take the short ferry trip to Puffin Island when the mood takes you.