Bangor itself is compact, but the immediate surroundings offer plenty to keep you busy. The National Trust's Penrhyn Castle just east of the city is the headline attraction — a vast Victorian mock-Norman mansion built on slate and sugar money. Garth Pier stretches 450 metres into the Menai Strait and is one of the most scenic spots in north Wales. Bangor Cathedral, founded in the 6th century, is at the heart of the city. The Menai Suspension Bridge, Thomas Telford's 1826 masterpiece, is a short drive southwest. Birdwatchers will find The Spinnies rewarding. The mountains of Snowdonia are less than half an hour's drive south.