Morfa Bychan

The Towy estuary near Carmarthen opens up into this sweep of salt marsh and mudflat that locals call Morfa Bychan - basically the Welsh word for 'small marsh'. It's not the sort of place you'd stumble upon by accident. You come here deliberately, usually because you're into birds or you want a proper walk that feels genuinely removed from the caravans parked up the road.

The terrain is bog-standard marshland really: reedy, squelchy, and best tackled with decent boots. Winter brings huge numbers of wildfowl - wigeon, teal, pintail - so if you're a twitcher, November through February is your window. Summer's quieter but the light across the flats can be stunning in the early morning.

It's the kind of spot that rewards patience rather than spectacle. You won't find facilities or car parks or anything that makes it easy. The nearest proper base is Carmarthen town itself, though Thorning Farm and Parkdean Resorts Pendine Sands are both within walking distance if you're staying in one of the caravan parks nearby. Pendine itself has its own coastline appeal - wide sands that attract speedsters and families alike.

Allow a couple of hours if you're walking the perimeter, longer if you're serious about spotting things. Free to access, obviously - it's a bit of open country rather than an attraction with a gift shop. The Towy Valley walks nearby offer similar wetland interest if you want to combine a few locations.