Gallt Pen-rhiw

You'll find yourself walking into proper woodland - the kind with a real sense of enclosure, where the canopy does the heavy lifting and the path just keeps inviting you deeper. Gallt Pen-rhiw, just outside Newport in Pembrokeshire, is a forest walk rather than a destination with facilities or viewpoints. It's the sort of place you go when you want to clear your head without needing a car park or a visitor centre.

The woodland here is thick enough to feel genuinely remote, even though Newport's only minutes away. There's a network of trails threading through, so you can make this as short or as long as you fancy - anywhere from a quick thirty-minute potter to a proper two-hour circuit if you're keen. The walking is easy enough; paths are well-trodden and the gradient's gentle. Bring decent boots though, as it gets muddy after rain.

Walkers will get the most from this. Families with young children might find it a bit samey after an hour - there's no waterfall to aim for, no viewpoint to build up to. It's just you, the trees, and some welcome quiet. Birdwatchers sometimes rate it highly in spring. There's no charge that I'm aware of, and no need to book.

If you're staying at one of the holiday parks nearby - Llwyngwair Manor is closest at just over two miles - it's an easy morning walk before heading to the coast. It pairs well with visits to Cardigan Bay or the beaches around Newport itself.