Cors Field

A proper working landscape rather than a manicured nature reserve, Cors Field sprawls across wetland in Carmarthenshire with the sort of understated Welsh charm that doesn't announce itself loudly. This is bog and fen country - the kind of place where you're as likely to spot dragonflies and water voles as you are other visitors, which rather suits the whole affair. The reserve sits close enough to Carmarthen that it's an easy slot into a wider exploration of the area, but different enough to feel like stepping away from it all.

Walkers and wildlife watchers will find their time properly spent here. Bring binoculars and patience in equal measure; this isn't a quick tick-box visit. Spring and early summer are when the place really sings, with breeding birds making a racket and wildflowers doing their thing across the wetland. The ground can be boggy - proper squelchy in places - so waterproof boots aren't a luxury.

If you're based at one of the caravan parks nearby (Laugharne Park is practically next door), this makes a sensible morning or afternoon outing without requiring a car journey. It won't keep energetic kids entertained for hours on end, but for families interested in wildlife or adults after a contemplative walk away from the crowds, it's worth the effort. Free access appears to be the case, though the lack of formal facilities means you're largely left to your own devices. That's rather the point.