Swansea Society of Model Engineers, home of the Derwen Fawr Miniature Railway.

The Derwen Fawr Miniature Railway is one of those places that sounds a bit niche until you actually turn up, then you realise why model railway enthusiasts talk about it non-stop. Run by the Swansea Society of Model Engineers, it's a proper working railway in miniature, built and maintained by volunteers who clearly know their stuff. You get to watch - and sometimes ride - intricate little trains trundling along tracks through a carefully landscaped setting. The engineering detail is genuinely impressive if you know anything about railways, but even if you don't, there's something oddly mesmerising about watching tiny locomotives do their thing.

It's an absolute winner for families with children aged 5 to 12, though train-mad kids of any age will get absorbed for hours. Adults who grew up with model railways find it nostalgic; serious hobbyists come to admire the craftsmanship. Expect to spend 45 minutes to two hours depending on how much your group wants to linger and chat with the volunteers - they're generous with their time and knowledge.

The place sits within striking distance of Swansea's caravan parks, with Blackhills Leisure and Swansea Marina Tourer Park both under three miles away. If you're basing yourselves at Three Cliffs Bay Holiday Park for a Gower Peninsula break, this makes a decent rainy-day option. Check ahead for opening hours and admission charges, as it's run by volunteers and doesn't always operate on a fixed schedule. Worth ringing ahead before you visit.