Pant yr Hyl

The forest sits just inland from Porthcawl, a proper working woodland rather than some manicured visitor attraction. Pant yr Hyl is the sort of place you stumble into on a wet Tuesday and suddenly realise you've been walking for two hours without noticing.

There's something refreshing about a forest that doesn't try too hard. The paths are decent enough - a mix of woodland trails that wind through dense trees and occasionally open out to views across the valleys. It's not dramatic or particularly challenging, but it's genuine.

Walkers will get the most from this place. The network of tracks means you can fashion a route to suit your pace - anything from a quick thirty-minute loop to a proper morning's hike. Families with young kids might find it a bit samey after an hour or so, unless they're the type who enjoy spotting wildlife and not much else. Bird watchers should come at dawn if they're serious about it.

The real bonus is the proximity to Trecco Bay Holiday Park, just a mile or so away. If you're based there with kids, this is a decent alternative to dragging everyone to a coastal attraction on a blustery day. You'll likely have the paths to yourself, especially midweek.

No visitor facilities that I could find, so bring water. Free access, naturally. Spring and autumn work best - summer can be muggy under the canopy, and winter can get soggy underfoot. Worth a morning if you're in the area, nothing more.