Snowdon Mountain Railway

The little red train that chugs up Snowdon is one of those things you either love or find a bit underwhelming, depending on what you're after. It's a proper Victorian railway - opened in 1896 - that takes you from Llanberis station all the way to the summit of Wales' highest mountain. You sit back, watch the landscape shift from slate quarries to alpine meadow, and let someone else do the walking. Brilliant if you've got dodgy knees or young kids who'd never manage the climb under their own steam.

The journey takes about two hours return, and on a clear day the views from the top are genuinely worth the ticket price. You get views across to Snowdonia's other peaks, down to the lakes, and on exceptional days right across to Anglesey. On a grey morning though - and let's be honest, this is North Wales - you might end up staring at cloud for the last thousand metres. Worth checking the forecast before you book.

It's busy in summer, especially school holidays, so go early or midweek if you can stomach it. The base station sits right next to Llanberis, which has cafes and shops, and you're well-placed for exploring the wider Snowdonia area. The caravan parks dotted around - Llanberis Touring Park is barely a mile away, and Snowdon View Holiday Park closer still - make it a natural part of a week exploring the slate villages and walking routes. Not cheap, mind you, but then what is these days.