Beddgelert Welsh Highland Railway

The railway line that runs through Beddgelert is a proper throwback - a narrow-gauge heritage line that chugs through the Snowdonia valleys like something out of a child's storybook. You board at the station in the village itself (just outside Caernarfon), and the train winds through woodland and moorland for about an hour, giving you views that open up gradually rather than hit you all at once.

It's genuinely worth doing if you've got kids in tow or if you're the sort who finds Victorian engineering oddly satisfying. The novelty of riding in vintage carriages is real, though it's not a white-knuckle experience - more a leisurely trundle that lets you take in the landscape without having to navigate it yourself. The journey passes through some lovely bits of North Wales terrain, and there's something about being on rails that makes even ordinary countryside feel special.

If you're camping nearby - Cae Du or Beddgelert Campsite are both within walking distance - it's an easy morning or afternoon out. Allow two to three hours for the full experience including boarding time. The village itself is tiny, so pair it with a walk along the river or a wander around Caernarfon's castle to make a proper day of it. Fair warning: it does close seasonally, so check ahead before you travel. Not a detour if you're just passing through, but if you're staying put in the area, it ticks a box without any fuss.