Swansea

Three churches dot this corner of the Gower Peninsula, but that's barely scratching the surface of what makes this slice of Wales special. You're properly in the heart of Gower country here - wild moorland stretches inland while some of Britain's finest beaches lie just minutes away by car.

Reynoldston sits at the peninsula's elevated centre, giving you cracking views across the surrounding countryside. The village itself is quiet - St. George's Church and Reynoldston Methodist Church anchor the community, but most visitors use this as their base for exploring the spectacular coastline that wraps around the peninsula.

Within a short drive you'll hit Rhossili Bay with its sweeping three-mile stretch of sand, consistently ranked among Europe's best beaches. The walk to Worm's Head is a proper adventure when the tide's right. Oxwich Bay offers calmer waters and rock pools, while Three Cliffs Bay delivers that postcard-perfect combination of golden sand, limestone arches and rolling dunes.

Getting here means driving - the nearest train station is Swansea city, about 45 minutes southeast. But that's half the appeal. You're away from the crowds, surrounded by National Trust coastland and ancient commons where ponies still graze.

Staying at one of the local parks like Oxwich Camping Park or Nicholaston Farm puts you right where you need to be. No rushing to beat traffic to the beaches. No hunting for parking on sunny weekends. Just wake up and you're already in one of Britain's most spectacular coastal landscapes.