Esgair Ysgyryd

The forest at Esgair Ysgyryd is proper woodland - the kind where you actually lose the sound of traffic within minutes. It sits near Llanidloles in Powys, and if you're staying at either Glangwy Farm Camping or Ty Llewelyn, it's close enough for a half-day sortie without needing to plan an expedition.

What you get here is straightforward: mixed forest with decent walking tracks that wind through the trees. The paths are well-trodden but not overcrowded, which is something you'll appreciate if you've just dragged yourself away from the busier valleys. It's the kind of place where you can actually hear birdsong and spot the occasional squirrel without being jostled by a tour group.

Walkers will find it worthwhile. The terrain isn't brutal - nothing that'll have you cursing your choice of footwear - but there's enough elevation to make your legs work. Give yourself two to three hours if you're not rushing. Families with kids who can manage a decent walk will get something out of it too, though small children might struggle with enthusiasm after the first hour.

There's something rather lovely about the simplicity of it. No visitor centre, no café charging five quid for a cup of tea, just forest. The light filters through the canopy in that particular way it does in Welsh woodlands - all misty and atmospheric when the weather's cooperating. Free to access, free to wander. That's the appeal. It's not dramatic or famous, but it's genuine and it works.