Pwll Twcwr

The water at Pwll Twcwr sits like dark glass between steep wooded banks, a proper tarn rather than what you'd call a lake. It's the kind of place you stumble upon when walking the Pembrokeshire paths near Newport - not somewhere you drive to specifically, but absolutely worth the detour if you're in the area.

What draws you here is the wildness of it. No facilities, no café, no marked trails - just a natural pool hemmed in by oak and ash, with the sound of water trickling down from the hills above. On a quiet day you might see herons. The walk down takes maybe fifteen minutes from the nearest lane, through proper woodland, which means it's genuinely peaceful. No one's taking selfies.

This is walker territory, not a family seaside spot. The banks are steep in places and muddy after rain, so older kids who enjoy woodland rambles will get more from it than toddlers. Allow an hour to get down, sit for a bit, and climb back out.

The lake itself is cold and nobody swims - it's just not that kind of place. What it is, though, is exactly what Pembrokeshire does well: wild water in proper countryside. If you're staying at Llwyngwair Manor Holiday Park two miles away, it's a cracking half-day walk. Worth the mud on your boots.