Official start/end of Offa's Dyke Path

The stone monument marking the northern terminus of Offa's Dyke Path sits in Conwy, right where the 177-mile trail meets the coast. It's not flashy - just a marker and some interpretive boards - but there's something properly satisfying about standing at the actual start or finish point of one of Britain's longest national trails.

Most visitors here are either setting off on the full walk to Prestatyn in the south or celebrating having just completed it. The mood's always a bit special, regardless. You'll find walkers swapping stories, taking the obligatory photo with their boots muddied from weeks on the path, or psyching themselves up for the journey ahead.

The location itself is the real draw. Conwy's got enough going on - the castle, the town walls, decent cafes - that you won't feel stranded if you arrive between walks. If you're based at Golden Sands Holiday Park down the coast near Rhyl, it's a straightforward drive to get here and break up a beach-focused trip with some proper Welsh countryside exploration.

Allow twenty minutes to look at the marker and take photos. Admission's free, obviously. Go early morning if you're setting off on the path itself - you'll want daylight on your side for the first section. If you're just visiting the marker as a curious tourist, anytime suits, though weekday mornings beat weekends for a quieter experience.