Hendy Park

A proper little woodland surprise on the outskirts of Llanelli, Hendy Park is the sort of place that rewards a quiet morning walk rather than a tourist pilgrimage. The reserve sits tucked away in Carmarthenshire, offering wooded trails where you'll actually hear birds instead of crowds. Expect mixed woodland, open glades, and if you time it right, decent birdwatching opportunities - nothing dramatic, but genuinely peaceful.

It's best suited to walkers after a gentle ramble and nature enthusiasts wanting to escape suburbia for an hour or two. Families with younger kids might find it a bit quiet - there's no playground or visitor centre to keep things moving. The trails are straightforward enough, nothing steep or technical, which means anyone reasonably mobile can manage them.

The real win here is the proximity to Llanelli and the caravan parks clustered nearby - South Wales Touring Park and River View Touring Park sit within spitting distance, making this an easy add-on to a week in a holiday park. If you're based at Gateway Resort or Gowerton Caravan and Motorhome Club Campsite just up the road, you could walk here without even getting in the car.

Go on a weekday morning if you can. Weekends bring the local dog walkers out in force, which rather defeats the purpose of seeking out something quiet. Allow a couple of hours maximum unless you're the type who stands still for twenty minutes watching a wren. Free access and no faffing about with visitor centres makes it refreshingly uncomplicated.