Lorts Cave

The entrance to Lorts Cave sits tucked into the Pembrokeshire coastline near Pembroke, and frankly it's easy to walk straight past if you're not looking carefully. This is a proper sea cave - the sort that fills with water at high tide and demands you time your visit with the tide tables. Inside, it's genuinely atmospheric: limestone walls, the sound of water echoing, that particular damp chill that all caves seem to have.

It's free to visit, which is the main draw. Allow 30 minutes if you're just poking around, longer if you're into geology or want to sit and think about how this place looked 10,000 years ago. The cave itself isn't vast - no cathedral-like chambers or dramatic formations - but there's something satisfying about exploring a real working sea cave rather than a tourist-polished attraction.

Walkers and curious types will get more out of it than families with young children. The access can be muddy, and there's no safety railings or facilities. Absolutely bring a torch and check tide times before you go - getting cut off is a genuine risk, not a romantic notion.

If you're based at one of the caravan parks nearby - Freshwater East is only two miles away - it makes a decent morning adventure before heading to Tenby or Saundersfoot. It's the sort of place that takes 45 minutes from your pitch and gives you a proper sense of the Welsh coast without queuing or paying entry fees. Worth the detour if you're already in Pembroke, less so if you're miles away.