Dinas Reservoir

The reservoir sits in a fold of the Ceredigion hills just inland from Aberystwyth, a proper mountain lake that catches you off-guard if you're expecting typical Welsh reservoir dullness. It's tranquil in a way that feels almost private, ringed by conifer plantations and steep grassland that funnels down to the water's edge.

You can walk the whole circuit if your legs are willing - it takes a couple of hours at a steady pace and the path hugs the shoreline for most of it. The dam itself is a functional thing, nothing to write home about, but the walk rewards you with glimpses across the water toward the higher slopes beyond. It's the kind of place where you genuinely see nobody else, which counts for something in modern Wales.

Families with older kids will manage it fine; younger ones might find it a bit relentless unless you break it into shorter stretches. Walkers and photographers get the most from it, especially on overcast days when the light turns the water grey-green and moody. There's something about reservoirs in upland areas that photographs better than it sounds, if that makes sense.

The access appears to be free and open to the public, though facilities are minimal - no café, no visitor centre, just the walk. Given you're so close to Aberystwyth itself and the surrounding parks like Forester's Retreat Glamping just up the road, it works well as a morning expedition before heading back to base. Don't expect drama. Expect quietness and decent hill views.