Waun Las National Nature Reserve

The moorland around Waun Las rolls on in that proper unvarnished way that South Wales does so well - no manicured paths or visitor centres, just open hillside where you actually feel the weather. It's a National Nature Reserve that rewards people who like their walking quiet and their views uncluttered, sitting just a couple of miles from Carmarthen town.

What you get here is heathland and rough grassland at around 300 metres elevation, the sort of place where adders sun themselves on the rocks and you might spot a buzzard working the thermals overhead. There's no admission charge and no set routes - you pick your own way across the reserve, which is both the appeal and the slight drawback depending on your mood. Walkers will find it worth the effort; families with young kids might find it a bit lacking in the structured interest department after half an hour or so.

The nearest proper base is staying at one of the caravan parks dotted within a few miles - Coedhirion Farm Holidays and Towy Valley Caravan Park are both close enough for an easy morning outing. Combine it with a stroll into Carmarthen itself if you want something less exposed, or use it as a warm-up for deeper exploration of the Towy Valley.

Best visited on a clear day when the views stretch properly. Midweek in spring or autumn you'll likely have the place to yourself, which is precisely the point of somewhere like this.