Candleston Castle

The ruins sit tucked away in a valley between Porthcawl and Bridgend, easy to miss if you're not looking for them. Candleston Castle is what remains of a 15th-century fortified manor - crumbling stone walls and archways that suggest something once grand, now slowly being reclaimed by the Welsh countryside. You can walk right up to it, poke about the ruins, and stand in what used to be rooms, though there's precious little left to get excited about unless medieval masonry really speaks to you.

It's free to visit and takes maybe twenty minutes to explore properly, less if you're not bothered with the details. The setting is genuinely lovely - fields rolling away, proper quiet - which makes it worth the short detour from Porthcawl if you're staying in the area. Families with older kids will get something out of it; younger ones might find it a bit dull unless they're into climbing on old walls. History buffs will enjoy the walk and the sense of discovering something that doesn't get the crowds, though you'll want to do a bit of research beforehand because there's nothing on site explaining what you're looking at.

If you're based at Trecco Bay Holiday Park down the coast, it's barely worth the drive for this alone. But as part of a wider wander around Bridgend County Borough - mixing in some coastal walks and other local spots - it fits. Go on a clear day; damp weather just makes it feel abandoned and gloomy.