Harlech is a small town on the west coast of Wales, pinned between the mountains of Eryri and a wide sweep of dunes and beach. Its skyline is dominated by Castell Harlech, one of Edward I's great north Wales castles and part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The castle is the reason most people come, and it deserves the attention. It sits on a rocky crag that once looked straight out to the sea; the shoreline has retreated, leaving a dramatic drop to dunes and fields below. From the walls you get one of the best castle views in Wales: Snowdonia behind you, Cardigan Bay beyond the sand, and the little town falling away under the gatehouse.
Harlech is more than the castle, though only just. Harlech Beach is huge, quiet, and backed by protected dunes. The old streets around the castle are steep enough to make you slow down, especially Ffordd Pen Llech, which has made a noisy claim to being the world's steepest street.
This is an easy day from Porthmadog, Barmouth, or the Cambrian Coast railway. Stay longer if you want beach walks, castle time without a rush, and a quieter base on the edge of the national park.