Allt Cwm-castell

Head into Allt Cwm-castell and you're walking straight into proper Welsh woodland - the kind of place where the air feels different the moment you step off the road. It's a forest in Carmarthenshire, near Whitland, and it's the real deal if you want to escape into trees without faffing about with visitor centres or paying entrance fees.

What you get here is straightforward: woodland paths, decent walking, the chance to actually hear yourself think. The canopy's thick enough to muffle the outside world, and there's something about the way these valleys feel - closed in, ancient, slightly moody. You're looking at proper forest, not a manicured park. Bring good boots and waterproofs; the ground gets boggy and the weather turns fast.

Walkers will get the most from this. It's not a destination with activities and attractions - it's a place to move through, to breathe in, to do a solid two or three-hour circuit if the paths are in decent nick. Families with older kids will manage fine; younger ones might tire quickly as there's nowhere to stop and sit with a view or an ice cream.

The beauty is how close it sits to the glamping sites dotted around - Embrace the Space and Frowen Fields are both within five miles. If you're based at one of those for a weekend, this forest works as your morning or afternoon walk. Don't expect signposting or facilities; expect actual woodland on its own terms.