Coed Tan y Llwyfan

A proper forest walk rather than a manicured attraction - Coed Tan y Llwyfan sits inland from Abergele and delivers what you want from a North Wales woodland: decent trails, enough space to actually feel like you've escaped, and views that open up once you're into it. The forest itself is mixed woodland, the kind where you'll spot oak and conifer mixed together, with a stream running through that keeps things interesting on the ear if not always the eye.

It's best suited to walkers with some stamina rather than a quick stroll-and-back crowd. The paths wind through fairly thick cover for much of it, so don't expect dramatic vistas - this is about the walk itself, the sound of water, the smell of damp earth after rain. Families with younger kids might find it a bit samey after forty minutes or so. Older children who actually want to explore properly will get more from it.

The lack of formal facilities doesn't bother most people - there's no café, no car park amenities that I'm aware of, so come prepared. It's free to access, which is always welcome. Allow a couple of hours if you're doing a decent loop rather than just a taster. The nearest proper base would be one of the caravan parks - Plas Farm is closest at under two miles and highly rated - then you've got this forest plus the coast at Abergele within easy reach. Not dramatic, but solid woodland that earns its place on a North Wales itinerary.