Island Farm - Former German PoW Camp

The barbed wire is long gone, but walking around Island Farm still gives you an odd feeling. This former prisoner-of-war camp, just outside Porthcawl, held German soldiers during the Second World War - and it was the site of one of the most audacious escape attempts of the entire conflict. In 1945, 67 German officers tunnelled their way out in what became known as the "Great Escape of Island Farm". Only a handful made it far enough to matter, but the story is absolutely gripping.

You won't find much standing now - a few buildings, some interpretation boards, the ghost of the compound layout. But that's partly what makes it work. Your imagination does the heavy lifting as you wander the grounds and read about the tunnelling operation, the scale of the camp, and what daily life was like for thousands of men trapped on this Welsh hillside. History types will find it genuinely absorbing. Families with older kids (ten and up) usually get something from it, though younger ones might lose interest quickly.

It's free to visit and you can do it in an hour or so, though there's no visitor centre or facilities to speak of. Go on a clear day if you can - the views across the valley are a proper bonus. If you're staying at Trecco Bay Holiday Park, it's only four miles away, making it a straightforward morning trip. Worth combining with a walk around Porthcawl's seafront or one of the nearby beaches to make a full day of it.