Coed Pencefn

The woodland around Coed Pencefn is proper walking territory - dense enough to feel like you've actually left somewhere, but not so tangled that you'll lose the path. It's a working forest in Ceredigion, inland from Aberystwyth, where the trees crowd in tight and the ground stays damp underfoot even in summer. You're looking at mixed conifers and native broadleaves, the sort of place where the light filters through in shafts and you can hear water running somewhere you can't quite see.

Walkers will get the most out of this - there are trails winding through, nothing too technical, and it's the kind of forest that rewards a slower pace. Kids do fine for an hour or so, though they'll need something to do once the initial novelty of "being in the woods" wears off. There's no visitor centre or facilities that I can find, so it's purely a walk-in affair. Bring a map or check your phone signal before you head in, particularly if the weather's turned.

It slots nicely into a longer Ceredigion break - close enough to Aberystwyth for an afternoon visit without the drive becoming tedious. Both Cambrian Coast Holiday Park and Searivers Caravan Park are within five miles, so if you're based at either one, this is an easy detour. The forest is best visited October through April when the paths dry out quicker and you won't be overheated in waterproofs. Summer crowds rarely find it, which is part of its appeal.