Cwm Wern-ddu

You'll need to work for the views at Cwm Wern-ddu, but that's rather the point. This deep forested valley sits inland from Aberystwyth, tucked into Ceredigion's rolling countryside where the streams run fast and the trees grow thick enough to shut out most of the sky.

It's a proper walking spot - the kind of place where you actually use your legs rather than just amble about. The valley cuts through dense woodland, and the walking trails wind alongside the water, climbing gradually as you push deeper into the forest. The canopy keeps things cool even in summer, which is either brilliant or gloomy depending on the weather and your mood.

This isn't a destination for sitting down with a cup of tea and taking photos for Instagram. Families with older children who enjoy proper walks will get genuine value from it. Young kids and anyone after an easy stroll should look elsewhere. Walkers after some decent elevation gain and a genuine sense of being somewhere remote - this delivers.

The forest has that slightly wild Welsh feel to it, neither manicured nor dangerous. Allow two to three hours for a decent explore, longer if you're slow-moving or want to push deeper into the valley.

If you're staying at Woodlands Caravan Park nearby, it's a solid day out that doesn't require heading all the way to the coast. Weather-dependent though - heavy rain transforms the paths into proper mudslides, so pick your day.