Swansea

Wales' second city sprawls across the curve of Swansea Bay, where the industrial heritage meets some of the finest coastal scenery in Britain. The city centre has been transformed in recent decades - gone are the days when Dylan Thomas called it an 'ugly, lovely town'. Today's Swansea blends modern shopping districts with waterfront developments, though it still keeps that proper Welsh character.

Mumbles, just a short drive south, remains the real draw. This seaside village delivers Victorian pier charm alongside contemporary restaurants, while Mumbles Head lighthouse stands sentinel over the bay. The coastal path here leads to some cracking views back towards the city, especially on clear days when the Brecon Beacons shimmer in the distance.

Gower Peninsula begins practically at the city's doorstep. Rhossili Bay's three-mile stretch of sand regularly tops 'Britain's best beaches' lists, and rightly so. The waves here suit surfers, while walkers tackle the clifftop paths. Oxwich Bay offers a more sheltered alternative, with its nature reserve backing golden sands.

Getting here couldn't be easier - the M4 terminates in Swansea, and regular trains connect to Cardiff and London. The city makes a brilliant base for exploring both Gower's wild coastline and the Brecon Beacons' peaks, just an hour's drive north.

Staying at one of the holiday parks dotted around Gower - places like Oxwich Camping Park or Pitton Cross Caravan & Camping Park - puts you right in the heart of the peninsula's most spectacular scenery. You're minutes from world-class beaches yet close enough to nip into Swansea for proper shops and restaurants when the mood takes you.