Newbridge Fields Extension Car Park

The car park at Newbridge Fields Extension isn't what you'd normally write home about, but the reserve itself - just a short walk from Porthcawl - offers something genuinely decent for a couple of hours. You're getting proper wetland habitat here, the sort of place where you might actually spot something interesting rather than just tick a box.

The walking is straightforward enough. Paths wind through reedbeds and open water, and if you time it right - early morning or dusk - you've got decent odds of seeing water birds. Warblers nest here in spring, which appeals to the twitcher crowd. It's not dramatic landscape, nothing that'll take your breath away, but it has a quiet appeal. The lack of crowds is the real draw.

Really works best if you're staying at Trecco Bay Holiday Park down the road and want a break from the caravan park routine. Families with younger kids might find an hour plenty before they get restless - there's not much in the way of play equipment or facilities, so manage expectations. Bring binoculars if you've got them, though you don't need them. It's free to access, which helps.

Best visited outside peak summer holidays when it's less rammed. Go for the birds and the peace rather than views or activities. Decent enough half-morning excursion if you're in the area, but don't go out of your way.