Parc y Mileniwm / Millennium Park

The reserve sits just outside Talsarnau in Gwynedd, a proper slice of North Wales wetland that rewards a slow wander. What you're getting here is the kind of place where you actually spot things - water voles if you're patient, lapwings overhead, marsh marigolds in spring. It's a working nature reserve, not a manicured park, which means the paths are decent but the landscape feels genuinely wild.

Walkers will find this far more rewarding than families with young kids. You need patience and decent footwear to get the best from it. Most people allow two to three hours, though you could do a quick forty-minute loop if time's tight. The birdwatching is genuinely excellent, particularly in winter and during migration seasons.

Admission details are thin on the ground locally, but reserves in this corner of Wales tend to be free or charge a small donation. Worth ringing ahead to check opening times before you head down from Talsarnau.

If you're based at one of the nearby parks - Tyddyn Llwyn is barely three miles away, or there's Glan-Y-Môr just up the road - this works perfectly as a morning activity before hitting the beaches around Black Rock Sands. It's the sort of spot you either love or you don't. If you're after manicured paths and clear signage, you'll find it a bit rough. If you want to actually see wildlife and feel like you've stepped away from the caravan park crowds, it's well worth the detour.