Upper Newton Wood

Thick canopy overhead blocks out most daylight even on bright summer afternoons, creating that proper woodland atmosphere where every footstep sounds amplified. Upper Newton Wood spreads across rolling hills just outside Carmarthen, offering miles of unmarked paths through ancient oak and ash trees that have clearly been here longer than anyone can remember.

Walkers who enjoy getting properly lost will love this place. The lack of waymarkers means you're relying on instinct and the occasional glimpse of farmland through the trees to keep your bearings. Families with young children might find it a bit much - there's no visitor centre, no facilities, and definitely no cake shop at the end.

Being free to roam (as far as I could tell), it's the sort of woodland that rewards those who pack a thermos and don't mind muddy boots. Spring brings wild garlic carpets and bluebells, while autumn turns the whole place into a proper firework display of colour. Allow at least two hours if you want to explore beyond the obvious entry points.

For families staying at nearby holiday parks like Parkdean Resorts Pendine Sands or Laugharne Park Holiday Resort, this makes a decent contrast to beach days. Just don't expect to find your way back to the same spot twice - the paths have a habit of looking completely different on the return journey.