St Mary's & St Bodfan's Church

The church sits quietly on a hillside above Barmouth, easy to walk past if you're not looking for it. St Mary's and St Bodfan's - named after two saints - is a modest medieval building with that austere charm you find in rural Welsh churches. The interior is properly ancient, with chunky stone walls and a few pieces of old carved work that hint at centuries of worship here.

It's the sort of place that rewards a brief detour rather than a planned pilgrimage. Twenty minutes inside if you're interested in the carved stones and monuments, less if you're just passing through. History buffs will appreciate the age of it all, but don't expect grand architecture or the buzz of a cathedral. Families with restless kids will find it quiet enough to be peaceful, though there's not much to actually do once you've had a look around.

The real appeal is the walk itself - the location gives you a decent vantage point over the Barmouth area, and the climb from the town centre is refreshing without being strenuous. If you're based at one of the nearby parks - Hendre Mynach is barely a mile away - it's worth combining with a ramble down to the coast. Spring and summer are best; winter weather can make the hillside approach a bit grim. There's no charge to get in, and no fixed opening hours that I could find, so check locally before making a special trip.