Coed yr Arw

The woodland around Coed yr Arw feels properly wild for somewhere so close to Conwy town centre. This is dense, mature forest - the kind where you lose phone signal and remember why people used to be genuinely afraid of woods. The paths wind through thick canopy, with streams running alongside and the occasional clearing where light floods through. Most visits run two to three hours depending on how much time you spend getting properly lost, which is half the fun.

Walkers get the most from this. It's not a stroll-and-ice-cream situation - you're actually hiking, with proper inclines and terrain that demands attention. Families with younger kids might find it a bit much on a full loop, though the entrance sections are manageable. There's something about the scale of the trees that makes children shut up and pay attention, which is worth noting.

The beauty here is the contrast. Ten minutes from the medieval walls and tourist bustle of Conwy, and you're in genuine forest. If you're camping at Waenfechan Glamping or Maenan Abbey just up the road, this is an essential morning or afternoon. Coed yr Arw doesn't need facilities or visitor centres - the forest does the work. Free access, no time limits, no crowds past the first half-mile. Go when the light's low, either early morning or late afternoon, when the trees look properly atmospheric rather than just green.