Pen-trwyn Copper Smelting Site

Industrial archaeology doesn't get much more atmospheric than this crumbling reminder of North Wales' copper boom. The ruins scattered across this windswept site near Llandudno tell the story of 19th-century smelting works that once belched smoke across the Conwy coastline. What remains today are stone foundations, furnace bases and the odd chimney stack - enough to fire the imagination but requiring a fair bit of historical knowledge to make sense of it all.

History buffs will love piecing together how this operation worked, while families might find the scattered stones a bit underwhelming unless the kids are particularly keen on industrial heritage. The setting is properly dramatic though, with views across to Anglesey on a clear day. It's free to wander around and you'll have the place largely to yourself - not exactly a crowd-puller compared to nearby Conwy Castle.

Allow an hour at most unless you're taking detailed photos or sketching the remains. The site works well as a quick detour if you're staying at one of the holiday parks around Conwy - Hafan y Gogarth is barely a mile away, while several others like Aberconwy Resort are within easy driving distance. Best combined with a longer walk along this stretch of coast rather than visited in isolation.