Thomas Charles statue

You'll find Thomas Charles standing in bronze in Bala, a market town in the heart of Gwynedd that feels properly cut off from the rest of Wales. He's an odd choice for a statue if you're not already into local history - a 18th-century clergyman and educator who revolutionised Welsh education and founded the Sunday School movement. Not exactly a household name south of Offa's Dyke.

But here's the thing: Charles was genuinely important to this corner of Wales. He opened up learning to ordinary people when that was genuinely radical. The statue itself is modest and sits in the town centre, which means you'll walk past it while exploring Bala's high street rather than make a special pilgrimage to it.

If you're staying at Tyn Cornel Camping just down the road - and it's a cracking spot, honestly - this works as a five-minute wander into town combined with a proper look around the local bookshops and cafes. The Bala Lake just outside town is the real draw for most visitors; Charles is just a bit of cultural seasoning.

History enthusiasts and anyone interested in Welsh education will get more from it than casual tourists. Kids will probably find it dull unless you've done the groundwork explaining who he was. Worth knowing about if you're doing a wider Bala trip, but not worth detouring specially for. The walk from the camping is gentle enough though, and the town itself rewards a good wander.