Barmouth

The railway line here hugs the coast so tightly you could practically fish from your train window. Barmouth sits where the Mawddach Estuary meets Cardigan Bay, creating one of Wales' most dramatic seaside settings. Mountains rise sharply behind the town while that famous railway bridge stretches across the water like a Victorian engineering marvel.

This is proper Welsh coast - not the polished resort kind, but the real deal with working harbour vibes and salt-weathered buildings. The town centre has that lived-in feel you get in places where tourism hasn't completely taken over. Walk the promenade and you'll see why the Victorians fell for this spot.

Fairbourne sits just across the estuary, accessible by that rather lovely little railway that putters along the coast. The Panorama viewpoint gives you the full sweep of Cardigan Bay - well worth the climb on a clear day. Behind town, peaks like Mynydd Egryn and Bryngwyn offer proper hill walking with coastal views thrown in.

Getting here means either the scenic A470 through Snowdonia or that spectacular railway journey along the coast from Machynlleth. The train's honestly half the experience - especially when it crosses the Mawddach on that wooden viaduct.

Staying at one of the nearby holiday parks makes perfect sense. You're minutes from both beach and mountains, with Shell Island and Coed y Brenin Forest Camp offering completely different experiences. The estuary's tidal nature means the landscape changes dramatically twice daily - something you really notice when you're camping nearby and can watch it happen.