Allt y Gelli

The forest at Allt y Gelli sits just outside Cardigan, a proper wooded valley that gives you genuine peace without the crowds you'd find at more famous spots. It's a working woodland rather than a manicured nature reserve, which means you get the real thing - tall trees, streams, and plenty of paths that feel like they belong to locals rather than tour groups.

You can walk here for anything from thirty minutes to a couple of hours depending on which trails you fancy. The main draw is the woodland itself and the river that runs through it. It's the sort of place where kids can actually be kids - there's nothing sanitised about it, no visitor centre to queue at, just you and the trees. Walkers will find it genuinely rewarding, particularly if you're after something green and quiet between beach days along the Ceredigion coast.

Being close to Cardigan makes it ideal if you're based at one of the nearby parks - Cardigan Camping and Touring Caravan Site is less than six miles away, as is The Hiveaway if you want something with a bit more pizzazz. You could easily slot this in as a morning walk before heading into town for lunch, or combine it with a stroll along the river in Cardigan itself.

It's free to access, though there's no obvious car park or signposting, so you'll need to do a bit of homework before you go. Best visited in autumn when the colours are proper good, though honestly any time outside the wettest months will reward you.