Blaen Llia Forest

The waterfall here is the real draw - Blaen Llia cascades down a narrow ravine in a way that feels properly dramatic given how easy it is to reach. You're walking through dense woodland, following the sound of water, and suddenly there it is: a decent drop into a rocky pool below. The walk itself takes about forty minutes from the car park, following a stream bed that gets progressively narrower and greener as you go deeper into the forest.

It's free to visit and open year-round, though winter and spring are when the water flow is most impressive. Families with older kids will manage it fine - the path is well-trodden if a bit muddy in places. Younger children might struggle with the scramble down to the pool itself, which is steep and requires a bit of care. Photographers will want to arrive in late afternoon when the light hits the ravine properly.

Neath is the nearest town, about thirty minutes away, which makes this a sensible half-day trip if you're based at one of the nearby glamping spots. Brecon Beacons Camping and Caravan Park sits just five miles off, or you could combine this with a larger walk through the Brecon Beacons themselves. The forest reserve isn't massive - you're not spending an entire day here - but it's worth the short detour if you're already in the area. The scramble down to the pool is the real highlight; the walk up through the trees is pleasant enough but nothing you won't see elsewhere in Wales.