Mynydd March-Hywell

The walk up Mynydd March-Hywell isn't long, but it punches well above its weight for views. From Swansea, you're looking at a straightforward trudge to 600 metres that rewards with proper countryside on three sides - the Swansea Valley stretches out below, and on a clear day you can see right across to the Brecon Beacons.

It's the sort of hill that works brilliantly for families who want a proper walk without needing a packed lunch and four hours. The path is obvious enough, though it does get boggy in places after rain. Allow ninety minutes there and back if you're not rushing, or two hours if the kids are prone to stopping every five minutes to examine moss.

Historically minded types will appreciate the old quarry workings scattered about - slate extraction left its mark here for decades. There's nothing museum-like about it, just weathered stone reminders that people worked these slopes.

The real benefit for a Swansea holiday is that it breaks up a park-based week without requiring a lengthy drive. Both SWDA Riverside and Riverside Holiday Park sit just six miles away, making it a proper half-day adventure rather than an expedition. Go mid-week if you can - weekends draw walkers from across South Wales, and the car park fills fast. Winter light here is often clearer than summer haze, so don't dismiss a chilly visit.