Mosshouse Wood Reservoir

The water sits still and dark under the Welsh sky, surrounded by conifers that crowd right up to the shoreline. Mosshouse Wood Reservoir isn't a destination you'd stumble upon by accident - it's tucked away in Neath Port Talbot, a few miles inland from Swansea, and you need to actually want to find it.

It's fundamentally a working water supply, not a leisure attraction, but that's precisely what makes it peaceful. A modest walk takes you around the perimeter, passing fishing spots where locals cast lines and the occasional dog walker makes the circuit. The woodland itself is dense and green, offering proper shelter on drizzly afternoons - which, let's be honest, is most afternoons round here.

This suits walkers and birdwatchers far more than families after fairground thrills. The views are understated rather than dramatic. Forty minutes to an hour gets you a decent sense of the place; any longer and you're going round again. It's the sort of spot where you pause to listen to the water lap against the banks rather than reaching for your camera.

If you're based at Willow Springs Campsite nearby, Mosshouse Wood makes a solid morning walk before heading into Swansea proper. Free to access, gloriously unglamorous, and wonderfully quiet. Worth your time if you value solitude and don't expect postcards. Frankly, that's refreshing.