Ferryside Beach

The beach at Ferryside curves gently along the Towy estuary, all salt marsh and shingle with the kind of light that shifts constantly depending on the tide. It's not one for sunbathing - the water's cold, the beach narrow, and you'll spend half your time navigating mudflats - but that's precisely why it works. The village sits right on top of things, so there's no trudging through carparks or across dunes. You get a proper working waterfront, fishing boats bobbing about, and the sort of peace you only find when a place hasn't been dolled up for tourism.

History buffs will recognise this stretch immediately. Ferryside is serious Dylan Thomas country, and the light here explains why he was so taken with it. Walkers love this part of the Carmarthenshire coast because it actually feels like somewhere rather than just another beach. The walk towards Laugharne is excellent, especially at low tide when you can pick your way across the flats.

It's free, obviously. There's no formal opening or closing. Allow a couple of hours if you're just pottering, longer if you're striding out along the estuary path. Come at low tide for the best exploring - high tide chops things up considerably. Several caravan parks sit within spitting distance, including Ferryside Farm Caravan and Camping Site just 0.6 miles away, and Parkdean Resorts Carmarthen Bay Holiday Park slightly further at 2.6 miles, so it slots perfectly into a week exploring this bit of Carmarthenshire.