Cilgelynen Wood

The woodland paths through Cilgelynen Wood offer proper shelter from the wind that tears across the Pembrokeshire coast - which is exactly why it's worth the short drive from Newport. Ancient oaks and beech trees create a canopy thick enough that you'll stay relatively dry even when the drizzle's coming in sideways off the Irish Sea. The trails wind downhill towards a stream, and the air smells like wet leaf mould and damp earth rather than the salt spray you get five minutes away on the cliffs.

It's a good spot for families with young legs and old folk who want a gentle walk without the climb back up from a beach. Walkers using it as part of a longer route through Pembrokeshire's interior find it useful for breaking up a day - not dramatic enough to be the main event, but solid woodland without the crowds of the coastal parks. Allow an hour for a proper potter, or half that for a quick leg-stretch.

If you're staying at one of the nearby parks - Fishguard Bay Resort and The Hide are both within striking distance - this works as a rainy-day alternative or an early-morning ramble before heading to the coast proper. Free to access, no facilities to speak of, and the paths are well-trodden enough that you won't get lost. Bring a torch if you're going in winter when the light goes early.