Princes Pier

Railway heritage meets waterfront walks at this restored Victorian pier that juts into the Menai Strait. Originally built to serve the railway line connecting Anglesey to the mainland, Princes Pier now offers a peaceful spot to watch boats drift past and catch views across to Snowdonia's peaks on clear days.

The pier itself is fairly straightforward - a solid stone and metal structure that's been given a gentle makeover rather than a complete transformation. What makes it worth the short walk from Bangor is the perspective it gives you of the strait and the chance to see the famous suspension bridge from a different angle. Families will appreciate that it's properly paved and safe for children, though there's not masses to keep little ones occupied beyond the usual pier pleasures of spotting boats and feeding gulls.

Walkers tackling the Wales Coast Path will find this makes a decent pitstop, and it's handy if you're staying at one of the nearby sites like Plas Coch Holiday Park or Kingsbridge Caravan Park. The walk from central Bangor takes about 15 minutes, and you'll likely have the place largely to yourself outside peak summer months. It's free to wander, and while you won't need more than half an hour unless you're settling in with a book, it's a pleasant enough diversion when the weather's playing ball.