Coed Cae Moch

You'll find yourself in proper woodland the moment you step into Coed Cae Moch, just inland from Abergele on the North Wales coast. It's a working forest - Forestry Commission land - so don't expect manicured paths and visitor centres. What you get instead is the real thing: tall conifers, rough tracks, and the kind of quiet you won't find on the beaches five miles away.

The forest works best for walkers who like a bit of solitude and don't mind uneven ground. It's not long enough to eat up a whole day, but it makes a cracking afternoon detour if you're based at one of the nearby caravan parks - The Beach or Plas Farm are close by. Families with small kids might find it a touch underwhelming after an hour or so; there's not much in the way of interest beyond the trees themselves. Older children and anyone after some peaceful woodland air will get more from it.

What makes it worthwhile is how accessible it is. You're minutes from Abergele and the coast, yet the forest feels genuinely removed. There's no entrance fee, no opening hours to worry about - you just turn up. Bring decent shoes because the tracks get muddy, especially after rain. Allow an hour to ninety minutes for a decent walk without rushing. It's the sort of place that makes sense as a break from caravan life rather than a destination in itself, but that doesn't make it any less worth visiting on a decent day.