Aber Glaslyn Pass

The road through Aber Glaslyn Pass will take your breath away - and I mean that literally on a steep day. This narrow gorge cuts through Snowdonia between Caernarfon and Beddgelert, with sheer rock walls rising either side and the Glaslyn River churning below. Driving it is half the thrill. The pass itself isn't somewhere you stop for hours - it's more of a proper scenic drive, maybe 20 minutes if you take it slowly and pull over for photos.

Walkers get the better deal here. Park at Beddgelert Campsite or Cae Du (just 1.4 miles away) and you can hike into the gorge properly, following paths that run alongside the river. The walk down into the pass from the Beddgelert end is steep but manageable, and the views of the rock faces towering overhead make the leg-work worth it. Kids will either find it brilliant or complain the whole way - depends on the age and their tolerance for "are we there yet?"

The drive alone justifies a visit if you're camping in the area. Caernarfon sits close by, so it's easy to work into a wider Snowdonia loop. Go early in the day if you can - the light is better and you'll dodge the coaches. The pass can feel genuinely wild and remote even though it's well-travelled. One of those North Wales spots that actually delivers on the drama.