Crynant Community Forest

The forest sits just inland from Port Talbot, a proper working woodland rather than some manicured country estate. Crynant Community Forest gives you miles of walking trails through mixed woodland, and on a clear day the views across the valleys are genuinely impressive. It's the kind of place where you can lose a morning without trying - the paths loop back on themselves sensibly, so you're not faced with that panic of being hopelessly lost. The terrain varies from gentle tracks to steeper climbs through the trees, which means families with younger kids can manage the easier routes while proper hikers get their legs working on the hillier sections. The woodland itself is doing what woodland does best: it's green, it's quiet, and it smells like damp earth and living things. Birdwatchers will find it worthwhile, and in autumn the colour's rather good. Winter's fine too if you don't mind muddy boots. You're not going to find a visitor centre or a café here, so bring your own supplies. It's the sort of free, unfussy amenity that makes a holiday near Port Talbot more worthwhile than the town itself might suggest. If you're staying at Willow Springs Campsite down the road - which scores brilliantly with families - Crynant gives you something proper to do that doesn't require spending money or driving anywhere. Allow two to four hours depending on which route you take and how often you stop to catch your breath on the hills.