Cambrian Heritage Railway - (Oswestry, Railway Station)

Steam locomotives and vintage carriages line the platform at Oswestry's railway station, where the Cambrian Heritage Railway runs heritage trains through some rather lovely Mid Wales countryside. You'll board restored coaches that date back decades, rumbling slowly through valleys and past moorland that feels properly remote despite being just outside town.

It's the kind of thing that appeals to railway enthusiasts and families with kids old enough to sit still for a couple of hours without constant distraction. Adults who remember when trains like these were actually in service tend to get quite misty-eyed about it all. If your children are under five, they'll likely lose interest before the journey ends, but anyone from about seven upwards will manage fine.

Allow three to four hours for a round trip, including time to walk around the station and perhaps grab a drink from the station cafe. The railway operates seasonally - May through September are your best bets - though it's worth checking ahead as timetables vary year to year.

Stay at Fairhaven Camping and Glamping or Sweeney Farm Glamping, both just a couple of miles away with solid reviews, and you've got yourself a proper weekend. The railway makes a decent half-day activity to slot between walks around the Shropshire borderlands or exploring Oswestry itself. It won't occupy your entire holiday, but it's worth an afternoon if you're in the area.