Coed Ty'n-llwyn

The forest runs down towards Cardigan Bay with a proper sense of drama. Coed Ty'n-llwyn sits above the village of Llwyngwril, and you can walk straight into it from the road without any faffing about with gates or admission charges. The woodland is dense enough to feel remote even though you're minutes from the coast, with paths that wind through broadleaf cover and emerge at clearings where the views suddenly open up across the water.

It's the kind of place walkers come to actually walk, rather than just potter about taking photos. The terrain is undulating - nothing brutal, but you're moving up and down rather than strolling flat - so bring decent boots if it's been wet. Families with younger kids might find 45 minutes to an hour here satisfying; teenagers and serious hikers will spend two hours and want to come back. You could easily combine this with a beach visit at Llwyngwril itself, which sits right below.

The forest works particularly well as part of a wider Cardigan Bay exploration. If you're based at Cae Du Campsite or Gwynedd Holiday Home Park - both within easy drive - you've got everything from woodland walks to coastal paths within touching distance. Spring brings bluebells; autumn is golden. Winter footfall is light, which means you might have the whole thing to yourself on a damp Tuesday afternoon. That's when it's best.