Afan Forest

The Afan Forest sprawls across 12,000 acres of dense Welsh woodland just outside Port Talbot, and it's genuinely one of those places that rewards getting lost in. Mountain bikers tear through here like it's their personal playground - the trails are serious and technical, with everything from beginner loops to proper lung-busting descents that'll have you questioning your life choices halfway down. But walkers needn't feel intimidated. There are gentler paths through the beech and oak, and on a clear day you get views across to the Bristol Channel that make the whole soggy Welsh weather worthwhile.

The forest works brilliantly if you're based at Willow Springs Campsite just four miles away. You can easily string together a few hours of wandering without needing to commit to a full day expedition. Early morning is genuinely magic here - fewer people, mist hanging between the trees, the occasional deer if you're lucky. Bring proper kit though. This isn't a stroll-around-the-shops sort of visit. The paths can turn properly boggy after rain, and mobile signal is patchy at best.

Historically minded types will find old colliery workings scattered throughout if they know where to look - reminders of when this area was all about mining rather than mountain biking. It's a sharp contrast to what you see now. Free to access, and you can spend anything from ninety minutes to a full day here depending on your energy levels and how many wrong turns you take.