It has a chilling past but this charming Welsh town is a honeypot for tourists

The quaint town of Beaumaris, with its chilling past, is a charming honeypot for visitors. On a sunny spring day, the Menai Strait off the Anglesey destination sparkles in an aquamarine hue. Daytrippers can be seen basking outside The Bulkeley Hotel or enjoying 99-ers on my visit to this historic town.

Parking at the main car park on the waterfront offers unbeatable views of the Great Orme and along the coast to Gwynedd, all for £6 for the entire day. A stroll along Beaumaris Pier provides an incredible panorama, with pleasure boats tugging at their moorings under a cobalt blue sky.

I've previously enjoyed a ride on the swelling sea to catch a glimpse of Grey seals on Puffin Island. Turning towards the town itself, it's a joy for those who love to wander. Bypassing the unfinished castle from 1295 - which I'd visited before - I found myself at Beaumaris Gaol, reports one North Wales Live reporter.

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The staff there are always eager to share fascinating details about our 19th Century penal system. One inmate, William Williams, was sentenced to two months of hard labour and one whipping in 1850 for stealing a hen. More serious offenders were subjected to a treadmill, the first of which was installed at Brixton Prison in 1818, with other gaols including Beaumaris following suit.

A display board at the Beaumaris Gaol in Anglesey reads: "Some treadmills were employed to pump water and drive machinery but the great majority served no purpose whatsoever: 10,000 treads was considered a day's task for the offender."

The history of the prison is grimly illustrated by workers who recount the tale of William Griffith and Richard Rowlands, the only two prisoners executed at Beaumaris. A mock-up of the gallows has even been made by a worker dressed as the governor.

One employee shares the chilling story of Griffith who was hanged outside the prison walls in 1830, his body buried within them. Gruesomely, spectators were offered a better view of this horrifying scene through upstairs windows, for a price. Rowlands met his grim fate inside the prison in 1862.

Contrastingly, visitors can also explore the town's delightful independent shops. The Stwdio Beaumaris flaunts lovely ceramics, while The Spirit of Anglesey draws attention with its quirky offer of beers for dogs. Find out about the latest events in Wales by signing up to our What's On newsletter here

A calm stroll leads you to Castle Gardens nursery, hidden away in a quiet alley. Feeling peckish, I lunched at The Bull's Head Inn - read why you can can see straight away why its setting as one of Wales' best pubs is so special - before meandering past the towering Beaumaris Eye ferris wheel back to my car. There's something particularly pleasing about wandering the streets of this characterful town. And when the weather is favourable, it's all the more delightful.