Saint Michael's Church

The churchyard sits quietly on the edge of Caernarfon, and you'll find Saint Michael's tucked away from the tourist shuffle that surrounds the castle. It's a medieval church - proper old, with that satisfying solidity you get from Welsh stone buildings that have watched centuries pass without complaint. The interior is straightforward rather than showy, which somehow makes it feel more genuine than some of the grander chapels you'll stumble across in North Wales.

This is the sort of place that appeals to walkers and history types more than it will to restless kids. You can work through it in twenty minutes if you're just having a look round, though if you're interested in the details - the carved stonework, the gravestones, the bones of the structure - you could spend longer. There's something almost meditative about standing alone in an old church on a grey Welsh afternoon.

Whether you're based at Bryn Gloch Caravan & Camping Park or one of the glamping spots near Llanberis, it's worth a detour if you're already in Caernarfon visiting the castle. Free to enter, naturally. The churchyard itself is pleasant enough for a wander, and it gives you a proper sense of how the town sits geographically - you can see the castle from certain angles, which helps you get your bearings. Don't expect crowds or visitor facilities. This is local history on a human scale, the kind of place that rewards a quiet morning walk more than a timed coach visit.