Allt y Ffynnon

You'll find Allt y Ffynnon just outside Llandysul, a proper slice of West Welsh woodland that rewards a wander without demanding hours of your time. The forest is modest in scale - nothing like the vast conifer plantations you get further north - but there's something rather appealing about that. Walking trails wind through mixed woodland, and the terrain is manageable for most fitness levels. The real draw is the quietness. Mid-week, you might see nobody at all.

This works well if you're based at one of the nearby camping spots like Thistledown or Wild Meadow and fancy a half-day outing. Families with younger kids will get a solid hour or ninety minutes out of it before restlessness sets in. Walkers doing the wider Ceredigion circuit might drop in as a leg-stretcher between bigger destinations. The forest itself isn't a destination in the "wow factor" sense, but it's exactly the kind of place locals use regularly - which tells you something.

Access appears to be free, though facilities are sparse. There's no visitor centre or cafe, so come prepared. Best visited outside school holidays when you'll have the place largely to yourself. It fits nicely alongside a stay in this corner of Wales - closer than the bigger attractions, less crowded than the coast, and a genuine bit of green to clear your head.