Will Ramsbotham

The ruins of Will Ramsbotham sit in the Gwynedd hills above Dolgellau, a modest but intriguing scrap of Welsh history that most visitors walk straight past without realising what they're looking at. It's a small stone structure - what remains of a 19th-century dwelling associated with a local character whose name has endured in the landscape far longer than the building itself. The site offers little in the way of interpretation boards or formal facilities, so you'll need a bit of curiosity and maybe a local guidebook to understand what you're standing amongst.

Walkers in the area will stumble across it naturally if they're exploring the moorland paths that crisscross the Cadair Idris foothills. It's worth a brief stop if you're already up there, but it's not the sort of destination that warrants a special journey on its own. History enthusiasts and those interested in Welsh rural life might find it satisfying; families with small children will likely lose interest within ten minutes. The real appeal here is the landscape around it rather than the ruins themselves - the views back towards Dolgellau and across the valley are proper lovely, especially on a clear day.

If you're staying at one of the nearby campsites - Graig Wen or Torrent Walk are close by - factor it into a longer walking route rather than treating it as a standalone attraction. Allow twenty minutes to half an hour if you do visit, including time to take in the surroundings. There's no admission fee because there's nothing formal to charge for.