Allt Henllys

The forest floor at Allt Henllys is thick with moss and leaf litter, the kind of place where you actually feel the damp Welsh air on your skin rather than just reading about it. This woodland sits near Newport in Pembrokeshire and offers proper walking through mature trees - oak and beech mostly - without the visitor infrastructure that can feel a bit staged at some of the bigger forest sites.

It's straightforward really: you get woodland trails, some decent elevation changes, and views out toward the Preseli Hills if you catch the right spots. The walk works well for families who don't mind mud and uneven ground, and hikers will find enough here to justify an afternoon, though you won't be tramping for six hours. Allow two to three hours if you're taking it leisurely and actually looking at things rather than just powering through.

Walkers benefit most from visiting here. It's the kind of forest where you might spot buzzards or hear them overhead, and the canopy does proper work when the weather turns. Go in autumn and the light through the trees becomes something worth the trip on its own.

If you're staying at Llwyngwair Manor Holiday Park just down the road, Allt Henllys makes an easy morning or afternoon slot without needing to travel far. It's not a destination you'd plan a holiday around on its own, but it fills gaps between the Pembrokeshire coast walks and family attractions nicely. No fancy facilities to speak of, which some will see as part of the appeal.