Cairn Circle

Stone circles aren't supposed to feel lonely, but this one does. Cairn Circle sits in the Gwynedd hills above Talsarnau, a modest ring of Bronze Age stones that's easy to miss if you're not specifically looking for it. What you get is exactly what it says - a circle of weathered rocks arranged by people who've been dead for four thousand years. Nothing flashy, no visitor centre, no gift shop hawking stone-age tat.

The landscape around it is the real draw. Walking up here in drizzle, with the Snowdonia peaks visible on a clearer day, you're genuinely away from things. It works brilliantly for walkers who want to tick off an archaeological site without the crowds you'd face at places like Castlerigg down in the Lake District. History types will appreciate it, though you'll need to bring your own knowledge - there are no interpretation boards. Kids might find it a bit underwhelming if they're expecting something more dramatic, but teenagers interested in prehistory could spend time considering what the stones meant to whoever built them.

It's free and accessible year-round, with no facilities on-site, so come prepared. Allow 45 minutes including the walk. The caravan parks dotted around Talsarnau and the surrounding area - Barcdy is barely over a mile away - make this a logical stop if you're basing yourself in North Wales for a week. Combine it with walks in the wider area and you've got something worthwhile.