Nant y Coed Local Nature Reserve

The woods at Nant y Coed feel proper wild for somewhere just outside Llanfairfechan. You're walking through thick deciduous forest with a stream running through it, the kind of place where you actually hear birdsong rather than your own footsteps. The reserve sits on Anglesey's eastern edge, and it's one of those spots that works brilliantly if you're staying at Three Streams Glamping or any of the caravan parks dotted nearby - a solid morning's outing without needing to load the family in the car again.

The main appeal is straightforward: proper woodland walking with actual wildlife. You'll spot buzzards if you're lucky, and the stream adds something beyond the usual forest trudge. It's free to access, which is reason alone to slot it into your itinerary. Expect to spend a couple of hours here comfortably, though you can knock off a shorter circuit in forty minutes if the kids are flagging.

Who gets the most from it? Walkers after something quieter than the honeypot trails, for sure. Families will find it decent enough - the paths aren't technical, and younger children won't get bored if you make it about finding birds rather than hitting a destination. History types less so, unless you're interested in how Anglesey's woodland has changed. The real strength is that it's genuinely local, genuinely quiet, and genuinely free. No queues, no gift shop nonsense. Just woodland doing what woodland does best.