Pwllheli

Welsh seaside towns don't get much more proper than this. Pwllheli sits on the Llŷn Peninsula where the Welsh language still holds sway and the pace slows to something approaching sensible. The main beach stretches for miles - one of those wide sandy affairs that's brilliant for families but never feels crowded, even in August.

Morfa Abererch, just outside town, offers a quieter alternative if you fancy escaping the bucket-and-spade brigade. The kids will love Splashzone when the weather turns, while Dwyfor Ranch Rabbit farm and Animal Park makes for a decent day out with smaller ones. Sports Zone covers the active crowd well enough.

What really sets this stretch of coastline apart is the countryside backdrop. Beudy-mawr Wood provides lovely walks when you've had enough sand between your toes, and Dragon Lakes offers fishing and peaceful strolls. The railway line runs right to Penychain station - handy if you're exploring the peninsula without a car.

David Lloyd George's Grave draws the historically minded, though it's a bit of a pilgrimage site rather than a major attraction. The town itself keeps things low-key - proper Welsh seaside without the theme park nonsense you get elsewhere.

Staying at one of the nearby holiday parks makes perfect sense here. Haven Hafan y Môr sits practically on the doorstep, while places like Black Rock Sands Touring and Camping Park put you within striking distance of both beach and countryside. The location works brilliantly as a base for exploring the wider Llŷn Peninsula - you're close enough to Criccieth and Abersoch for day trips, but far enough from the crowds to actually relax.