Craig y Fran

The walk up Craig y Fran isn't long, but it's steep enough that you'll feel it in your legs. What makes it worthwhile is the payoff at the top - proper views across Cardigan Bay and down the Ceredigion coastline that stretch for miles on a clear day. The viewpoint itself is simple: just you, the wind, and the landscape. No café, no visitor centre, no crowds.

This is one for walkers rather than casual strollers. The path from Aberystwyth takes about forty minutes if you're reasonably fit, and you'll want decent shoes because it gets muddy. Families with older kids will manage fine; younger ones might struggle with the gradient. History buffs won't find much here - it's purely about the view - but that view alone justifies the effort.

Timing matters. Go early in the day if you can, when the light's better and before the weather rolls in off the bay. Autumn and spring tend to be clearest. It's free, naturally, and you can do it as a morning walk before heading into Aberystwyth proper.

If you're staying at one of the nearby parks - Brynllwyd Glamping or Woodlands Caravan Park are both excellent - this makes an ideal half-day expedition without needing to drive far. Combine it with a wander around Aberystwyth town afterwards and you've got a solid day. Worth doing once; whether you'd return depends entirely on whether clear days cooperate with your holiday dates.