Parc y Moch

The walk through Parc y Moch is a proper forest wander rather than a destination in its own right. Located just outside Bangor in Gwynedd, this nature reserve offers a chance to get among the trees without venturing too far into the mountains - which makes it handy for a quick leg-stretcher if you're based at one of the nearby caravan parks like Ogwen Bank or Snowdon View.

It's woodland, essentially. You get paths through mixed forest, the occasional clearing, and if the weather's on your side, decent views toward Snowdonia. The reserve is genuinely quiet - we encountered precisely three other people on a Saturday afternoon. That's either a selling point or a warning, depending on your mood.

Walkers will find the routes straightforward enough, though nothing particularly dramatic. It's the kind of place where families with younger kids can burn off energy without anyone needing proper fell boots. Birdwatchers and botanists would probably get more from it than casual visitors looking for photo opportunities.

The whole thing takes maybe 45 minutes to an hour if you amble. Free access, no visitor centre or facilities that we could spot. Go early if you want solitude, or avoid midday in summer when Bangor residents might have the same idea. It works as an add-on to a broader Snowdonia trip rather than a reason to make the journey alone. The holiday parks within five miles offer good bases for exploring the wider area - Llanberis Touring Park is particularly well-placed for tackling proper mountain walks when you fancy something more ambitious than this.