Merthyr Mawr Nature Reserve

The dunes at Merthyr Mawr hit you differently when the wind picks up and you're properly in among the marram grass. This nature reserve sprawls across 265 hectares of coastal dunes just inland from Porthcawl, and it's the sort of place where you can lose a good couple of hours without realising it. The landscape shifts constantly - one minute you're walking through dense vegetation, the next you've stumbled into an open sandy bowl with views stretching towards the coast.

It's free to access and works brilliantly as a half-day expedition, especially if you're staying at Trecco Bay Holiday Park nearby. The walking trails are straightforward enough for families with decent boots, though after rain the paths get muddy rather than soggy. Kids tend to enjoy the scrambling about on dunes, though they can tire quickly if you push for more than an hour. History types will find something to chew on too - the dunes have Bronze Age burial mounds hidden within them, though you'd be forgiven for missing them.

Go when it's not heaving, which rules out summer weekends. Autumn or spring mornings are cracking, when the light's low and you've got the place mostly to yourself. The reserve supports rare plants and birds, so bring binoculars if you're serious about spotting things. It's not dramatic in the way coastal reserves elsewhere can be, but there's something quietly rewarding about moving through those dunes. Easy to combine with a walk into Porthcawl itself for fish and chips afterwards.