Capel Pen Y Bryn

You won't stumble across Capel Pen Y Bryn by accident - it sits quietly on a hillside near Porthcawl, the sort of place that rewards a deliberate detour. This is a small Welsh chapel, the real deal rather than a tourist attraction trussed up for visitors. The building itself is modest, typical of the rural chapels that once dotted the valleys and hillsides across South Wales.

What makes it worth the visit is precisely that understated quality. There's no gift shop, no entrance fee, no crowds. You get the architecture - chapel interiors tend to be clean-lined and honest - and a genuine sense of what worship looked like for ordinary people in these communities, generations back. The setting on the rise above Porthcawl gives decent views across the surrounding countryside, which makes the walk there rather pleasant.

Historically minded visitors will appreciate it most. Kids might find it a bit quiet, though the walk there could appeal to families based at Trecco Bay Holiday Park, just four miles down the road. The chapel isn't set up as a formal visitor attraction, so don't expect facilities or lengthy opening hours - it's worth ringing ahead or checking locally when you're in the area.

It's the sort of stop that breaks up a coastal holiday nicely rather than an all-day destination. Porthcawl itself offers beaches and arcades if you want something livelier afterwards.