Tywyn edges the salt marshes where the Broad Water lagoon meets the Irish Sea. This coastal town is the starting point for the Talyllyn Railway, a heritage line that carries steam trains into the green hills. In the centre, the ancient St Cadfan's Church houses a ninth-century stone with the earliest known written Welsh. My top tip is to walk the long promenade at dusk to spot dolphins in Cardigan Bay. You can explore the vast sandy dunes for free. The local landscape is a mix of marshland and high ridges. Life here follows the steady pace of the vintage railway and the changing tides. It is a genuine spot for an inland and coastal break.