Anglesey AONB

The entire island of Anglesey is designated an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, which means you're not visiting a single spot so much as living within one for your holiday. The distinction matters. It's not some cordoned-off attraction with opening hours - it's the whole landscape, from the rugged northern cliffs near Amlwch down to the gentler agricultural heartland and the long sandy beaches that define this Welsh island.

What makes it special is how varied it all is within such a small area. You get proper coastal drama on the north shore, with sea cliffs and hidden coves that reward a bit of scrambling about. The south side, facing the Snowdonia mountains across the Menai Strait, offers something entirely different - calmer waters, gentler walking, and views that shift with the weather. In between, there's a patchwork of lanes where you'll spot red kites and stumble onto Iron Age settlements that barely anyone bothers with.

It's ideal if you're after active days rather than museum-hopping. Walkers genuinely shine here. Cyclists too. Families wanting proper adventures - rock pools, beach exploring, inland trails - will find themselves spoilt. The cluster of caravan parks around Amlwch (Mount View, Gadfa, Tyddyn Isaf) puts you right in the thick of it, close to some of the most dramatic stretches without the tourist crush of Beaumaris or Menai Bridge further south.

Go when the weather turns decent - spring through early autumn - because the AONB's charms depend entirely on being able to get outside and move around it. Winter's bleak here, often beautiful, but not for everyone.