Great Orme Tramway - Victoria Station

The Victorian tramway at the bottom of Great Orme is one of those attractions that feels properly old-fashioned in the best way possible. You board at Victoria Station in Llandudno and then get winched up the headland in a cable car that's been running since 1902 - same basic system, same commitment to keeping you from plummeting downhill at speed.

It takes about five minutes to reach the top, and you're cranking up a 1-in-4 gradient the whole way. The views open out as you climb: Llandudno Bay spreads below, then the full curve of the North Wales coast becomes visible. On a clear day you can see across to Anglesey and beyond. The ride itself is the main event rather than any grand destination at the summit - though there's a decent cafe and some walking trails if you've got energy left.

Families with younger kids tend to love it because it's thrilling without being scary, and the novelty of the cable system keeps them engaged. Older folks and anyone who appreciates Victorian engineering get a real kick out of the craftsmanship. If you're staying at Hafan y Gogarth or any of the caravan parks dotted around Aberconwy, it's barely ten minutes from your pitch.

Allow 20 minutes for the journey itself plus whatever time you fancy at the top. It's not free - admission costs a fair bit - but for a once-in-a-decade ride in something genuinely historic, it punches above its weight. Go midweek in shoulder season if crowds bother you.