Dyffryn Gwaun

The valley cuts through the landscape north of Newport like a proper wound in the earth, all steep green sides and a river running dark below. Dyffryn Gwaun is one of those places that rewards you for getting lost on a Welsh back road - it's a glacial valley, all hanging waterfalls and mossy stone walls, the kind of thing that makes you understand why people used to believe in fairies here.

Walkers will get the most from it. There's no visitor centre or café, no signposted loop walks with laminated cards. You just park near Newport and walk into it, following the river, scrambling up banks, spotting the old stone bridges that cross overhead. In a good light it's genuinely beautiful - light filtering through oak and alder, the water loud enough that conversation drops away. A couple of hours is plenty, less if you're not keen on mud.

The valley's also got historical bones. You'll see the remains of mills and old dwellings tucked into the hillside - people have lived and worked here for centuries, though it feels abandoned now, which is partly the appeal. No admission charge, no opening hours - you go when you fancy, though winter rains can make the river impassable in places.

It's a sensible morning from any of the nearby parks - Llwyngwair Manor or The Hide Pembrokeshire are close by. Pairs that way you can push on to Fishguard for lunch afterwards. Kids under eight might find it a bit samey; teenagers or proper walkers will think it's worth the trip.