Conwy

The medieval walls that ring this North Welsh town still cast afternoon shadows across cobbled streets, just as they did seven centuries ago. Conwy's castle dominates the skyline - Edward I's fortress remains one of the finest examples of 13th-century military architecture in Europe, its eight massive towers brooding over the estuary waters below.

Walking the town walls takes about an hour if you dawdle, though most visitors find themselves stopping every few metres for photos. The views across to Anglesey are cracking, particularly at sunset when the Menai Strait turns copper-gold. Down in the town proper, the quayside hums with activity during summer months - fishing boats bob alongside pleasure craft, while the smallest house in Great Britain draws queues of curious tourists to its 6ft-wide frontage.

Beyond the walls, the Conwy Valley opens up into proper Welsh countryside. Snowdonia's peaks rise dramatically to the south, while the coast road west leads to Llandudno's Victorian promenade in fifteen minutes. The A55 makes getting here straightforward from anywhere in North Wales or the northwest of England.

Staying at one of the holiday parks dotted around the area gives you the best of both worlds. You're close enough to nip into town for fish and chips on the quay, yet far enough out to wake up to mountain views. Many parks sit within easy reach of both Snowdonia's hiking trails and the seaside resorts along this stretch of coast - proper convenience for families wanting variety without constant packing and unpacking.