Castell Henllys

Castell Henllys isn't your typical castle - it's an Iron Age hillfort that's been reconstructed to show you what life actually looked like two thousand years ago. The site sits near Newport in Pembrokeshire, and the real draw is wandering through replica roundhouses and seeing how people would have built and lived here during the Iron Age.

You'll see the defensive earthwork ramparts that once protected the settlement, plus a small museum that explains the archaeology without being patronising. The reconstructed buildings give it a hands-on feel that beats reading about it in a book. It's genuinely interesting if you care about how ancient people organised themselves.

History buffs will spend a good couple of hours here. Families with younger kids might find it engages them for 45 minutes before they lose interest - depends entirely on the child. The walk around the earthworks is gentle, nothing strenuous, though the ground can get muddy after rain.

Free entry, which is a proper bonus. Peak times are probably school holidays and weekends, so aim for a weekday afternoon if you can. It works well as part of a wider Pembrokeshire itinerary - you're close enough to the Preseli Hills for walking, and Llwyngwair Manor Holiday Park is just a few miles away if you're basing yourself there for a week. Don't expect visitor facilities beyond basic information, so bring what you need.