Afan Forest Park

The valleys around Port Talbot hide one of South Wales' best-kept outdoor spaces. Afan Forest Park sprawls across moorland and ancient woodland where you can actually breathe properly - no gift shops, no crowds, just proper silence broken by birdsong and the occasional stream. The walking here is genuinely good. There are trails ranging from gentle riverside strolls to serious moorland hikes that'll test your legs and reward you with views across industrial heritage and wild country sitting side by side, which is oddly moving.

Mountain bikers have discovered it in recent years and for good reason - the trails are well-maintained and varied enough to keep you coming back. Walkers get the better deal though. You can spend an afternoon threading through beech and oak, spotting the old industrial workings that remind you this land's always been worked hard. The park works particularly well if you're camping at Willow Springs just down the road - it's close enough for a morning walk before breakfast, ambitious enough for a full day out.

Bring decent boots. The paths get boggy when it rains, which it does regularly. Spring and early summer are best when the light's long and the woodland's green without being too humid. Expect to allow anything from two hours to a full day depending on which routes you choose. Free to access, no facilities that I could find, so come prepared. It's not spectacular in the postcard sense, but it's the sort of place that actually clears your head.