Underhill Park Car Park

The car park itself is fairly unremarkable - standard tarmac and painted lines - but it's the gateway to something altogether more worthwhile. Underhill Park sprawls across the hillside above Swansea, and once you're out of the vehicle, you're into proper woodland walking territory with decent views back over the city and the bay beyond.

It's essentially a local nature reserve that doesn't get mobbed with tourists, which is rather the point. Dog walkers and regular hikers from Swansea know it well. The paths wind through mixed woodland - nothing too strenuous, though a bit muddy after rain - and there are enough quiet corners to spot birds and the occasional deer if you're lucky. You won't find visitor facilities or interpretation boards, but that's the charm of the place. Budget an hour or two depending on how far you wander, and wear decent shoes.

Families will find it okay for a morning walk without expecting theme park thrills. History types will get nothing from it. But if you're staying at one of the caravan sites nearby - Blackhills Leisure is closest at under three miles away - and you want a free leg-stretch that isn't the seafront, this does the job nicely. Combine it with a proper coastal walk at Three Cliffs Bay, which is only four and a half miles down the road, and you've got yourself a decent day out. Winter is actually lovely here when the place is quiet. Summer weekends can feel a bit busier with locals.