Prestatyn Nature Reserve

The dunes and marshland at Prestatyn stretch back from the beach in a way that feels properly wild, especially if you've just come from the promenade with its arcades and chip shops. This is a nature reserve that actually feels like nature - no manicured paths or visitor centres, just wetland and sand dunes where you can spot wading birds, particularly in spring and autumn when migration gets interesting.

Walkers will get the most from it. The terrain's easy enough for families with older kids, though younger ones might find the open, windswept landscape a bit relentless after an hour or so. Birdwatchers should bring binoculars - redshanks, oystercatchers, and various terns show up regularly depending on the season. If you're staying at one of the nearby parks - Golden Sands is just five miles away, or Parkdean Resorts Ty Mawr a bit further - it's worth a half-day trip to break up the holiday park routine.

The reserve is free, which is the best part. Allow two to three hours if you're actually looking for birds rather than just marching through. Spring's probably ideal, when the light's sharp and the birds are active. Winter brings different species entirely, though the wind can be punishing.

It's not dramatic. There are no clifftop views or dramatic ruins. But if you want to step away from the Rhyl seafront for a bit and actually see what North Wales's coastal wildlife looks like, it does the job well.