National Trust - Penmaen and Nicholaston Burrows

The sand dunes here stretch for miles along the Gower Peninsula, just outside Swansea, and they're genuinely worth the drive if you're staying at any of the nearby holiday parks. Penmaen and Nicholaston Burrows are National Trust-managed, which means they're properly looked after - the dunes are home to rare plants and birds, and walking through them feels like being on a proper nature reserve rather than a seaside tourist trap.

What you're actually doing is wandering through restored dune systems where the Trust has been working to bring back the landscape. It's less museum, more outdoor classroom. You won't find a visitor centre with exhibits - this is about getting out and observing the habitat itself. Bring binoculars if you're into birdwatching; the marshes attract waders and wildfowl. Families with older kids will manage the walks fine, but it's not the sort of place that'll keep restless toddlers entertained for long.

The location is brilliant if you're camping at Three Cliffs Bay Holiday Park or Nicholaston Farm - you're literally minutes away. It's free to access and you can spend as little as an hour or as long as you fancy wandering the paths. Best visited when the light's good and the weather's cooperating; winter storms can make it bleak, though some people prefer it that way.

Honestly, if you're doing a Gower break, add it to your list. It's not flashy, but it's real conservation work you can see firsthand.