Ffynnon Caradog

The walk up Ffynnon Caradog isn't long, but it's steep enough to catch you off guard. This small peak sits just outside Aberystwyth and rewards you with views across Cardigan Bay that make the huffing and puffing worthwhile. On a clear day you can see for miles - the coast curves away below you, and inland the Cambrian hills roll into the distance.

It's the kind of place that works brilliantly if you're staying at one of the holiday parks nearby - Clarach Bay, Aber Bay, or Aberystwyth Holiday Village are all within spitting distance. You're looking at a brisk 30 to 40 minutes up and the same coming down, so it's proper morning activity stuff. No technical climbing required, just determination and decent footwear because it gets boggy.

Walkers will get the most from this. It's not a challenging peak by any stretch, but the views alone justify the visit. Families with younger kids might find the gradient tedious without the payoff of a longer ramble, and there's nothing to do at the top itself - no shelter, no café, no stone cairn to photograph. Just you, the wind, and the bay.

Go in late afternoon when the light softens. The crowds thin out, and Aberystwyth spreads below like a proper Victorian seaside town. Worth fitting in between beach days if you're based nearby.