Coed Y Cwm

The Welsh name gives it away - Coed Y Cwm means "wood of the valley", and that's exactly what you get when you find this wooded ravine just outside Aberystwyth. It's a proper bit of nature, the sort of place where the trees lean in close and you can hear the stream before you see it. The woodland path winds down through mature trees, following the water as it cuts through the valley. Nothing fancy, no visitor centre or café, just good honest woodland walking.

You'll want an hour here, maybe ninety minutes if you're in no rush. Families with older kids handle it well - younger ones might find the uneven ground frustrating, and prams won't cope. The paths are real walking routes, not manicured trails. Walkers love it because you get genuine Wales without the crowds that pile into the bigger attractions. Birdwatchers come here too, though you need patience and quiet.

Best visited out of season when the car park at Aberystwyth isn't rammed and you've got some solitude. The place is free to access, though parking near the valley entrance can be tight on sunny weekends. If you're staying at Clarach Bay Holiday Village or Aber Bay Holiday Park - both barely a mile away - it's a no-brainer afternoon outing. Combine it with a walk around Aberystwyth town itself, or tackle some of the longer routes along the coast path. Real Wales, this. No pretence.