Beaumaris

Medieval walls still circle this perfectly preserved castle town, their honey-coloured limestone glowing in the afternoon sun. Beaumaris feels frozen in time - not in a stuffy museum way, but like a place that simply got the proportions right centuries ago and never felt the need to change. The Victorian pier stretches into the Menai Strait, offering proper views across to Snowdonia's peaks.

Beaumaris Castle dominates the waterfront, Edward I's last and most sophisticated fortress in Wales. Unlike Caernarfon's intimidating bulk, this one's all geometric perfection - a textbook example of concentric castle design that never quite got finished. The town itself wraps around it like a comfortable old cardigan.

Walking the medieval streets takes about twenty minutes. The courthouse and gaol tell darker stories, while the parish church of St Mary's holds some fine 14th-century stonework. Down at the pier, you can catch boats to Puffin Island or simply watch the tide race through the strait.

Beyond town, Red Wharf Bay curves away to the northeast - a vast sweep of sand that empties completely at low tide. Llanfairpwll sits just across the bridges if you fancy seeing that famous railway sign.

Menai Bridge connects Anglesey to the mainland, making Beaumaris surprisingly accessible despite feeling properly remote. The A55 whisks you here from Chester in about an hour and a half. Several holiday parks dot the surrounding countryside, particularly around Red Wharf Bay, putting you within easy reach of both the castle town and Anglesey's wilder corners. Perfect for exploring the island's ancient burial chambers and coastal paths without giving up creature comforts.