Barmouth in Wales is a great place to visit (Image: Getty)
When you think of , you may think of majestic peaks and huge valleys carved by glaciers.
But the country is also home to many beautiful , which are great places to enjoy a day out.
Whether you prefer walking or lounging on the beach, enjoying a dip in the sea, or having a stroll on the seafront and grabbing a bite to eat, there’s a place for you.
You can do all of the above, of course.
I am a quarter Welsh, and my grandparents owned a caravan in Powys when I was growing up.
This meant I was lucky enough to enjoy many family breaks across the western border during half terms and summer holidays.
I will treasure memories from these for the rest of my life, despite a couple of childhood injuries (a couple of cracked teeth and a massive nose bleed, if you have to know).
: [TRAVEL]
Barmouth is a great place to spend a day (Image: Getty)
It’s par for the course growing up.
On our itinerary was usually a trip to the seaside, and one town was a go-to place to travel to.
Barmouth sits between Llanaber and Fairbourne and isn’t usually included in lists of the most popular coastal destinations in Wales.
It’s relatively small, and has a large car park. You unfortunately have to pay to use it, but the cost is more than worth it.
There is a massive beach to explore, I had one of the frights of my life thinking our family dog had run off in the dunes, and a small pier.
A ferry operates across to the other side of the Mawddach Estuary.
Trains also travel across the water on Barmouth Bridge, a 820 metre-long wooden railway viaduct, and spotters sometimes gather with their cameras to take photos of rare locomotives.
: [TRAVEL] [REPORT]
Barmouth Bridge was recently upgraded by Network Rail (Image: Getty)
It’s pretty unique and was recently upgraded by Network Rail.
The structure was first opened more than 150 years ago in 1867.
Down the road to the north are some amusements. These include your classics – bumper cars, slides, et cetera.
The ice cream there is pretty good.
In the other direction, it’s not my cup of tea, but fans of shellfish can enjoy some shellfish at the Lobster Pot.
Nearby, there are always families crab fishing with buckets and wire in the harbour.
I wasn’t bad at this myself when I was younger.
My buckets usually contained at least a few, no doubt rolling their eyes thinking “not again” and waiting around to be put back.
On the seafront are lots of cafes to choose from when you’re ready for some lunch.
I usually went for a tuna mayonnaise sandwich, which remains one of my favourites to this day.
If you haven’t had your fill of seaside fun, Barmouth itself is worth exploring, and above is a Panorama Walk and viewpoints.