Clyne Gardens

The gardens tumble down a steep wooded valley just outside Swansea, and they're far better than you'd expect from a local authority park. What you get is roughly 50 acres of woodland, lawns, and proper ornamental sections - rhododendrons and azaleas in spring, decent herbaceous borders through summer. The walk down into the valley takes you past a small pond and through some genuinely peaceful woodland that feels properly removed from the city above.

It's worth doing if you're already staying in the Swansea area - say at Blackhills Leisure or Swansea Marina Tourer Park - and you fancy a proper walk rather than a seaside trudge. Families with younger children will manage it fine, though the paths get steep in places and there's not much to specifically entertain kids beyond the space itself. Give it an hour and a half, maybe two if you're slow about it. History buffs won't find much - no ruins or plaques worth mentioning - but walkers and plant enthusiasts will find it genuinely pleasant.

The gardens sit on the western edge of Swansea proper, making them a useful half-day stop before heading toward the Gower Peninsula or Three Cliffs Bay Holiday Park further out. Free entry, which is the only way you'll get proper value. Spring and early summer are obviously the times to visit when the rhododendrons are actually doing something. Avoid school holidays if you value peace and quiet.