Allt y Dafarn

The walk up Allt y Dafarn from Aberystwyth is short and sharp, and that's precisely why it works. You're looking at roughly 20 minutes of proper climbing through woodland before you break out onto open hillside, where the whole sweep of Cardigan Bay suddenly opens up in front of you. The peak itself is modest by mountain standards - nothing dramatic - but the views across to the Cambrian range behind you and down to the coast make it feel far more substantial than the height suggests.

This is the sort of walk that suits families who've got restless kids and an afternoon to burn, though it's steep enough that you'll need to manage expectations with anyone under eight. The reward is genuine, though: on a clear day you can trace the coastline for miles, and the light hitting the bay in late afternoon is genuinely lovely. There's no café or facilities at the top, so bring water and something to eat if you're planning to linger.

If you're staying at one of the caravan parks nearby - Woodlands is barely two and a half miles away - it's the kind of outing that fills a morning without eating into the whole day. Come early if you want to dodge other walkers, and don't bother if the cloud is low; you'll gain nothing but damp and frustration. The woodland path can be muddy even days after rain, so proper boots are worth the bother rather than trainers.