Llan Ddu Fawr

The walk up Llan Ddu Fawr, near Aberystwyth, is straightforward but punchy - you're climbing proper moorland, and the views across Cardigan Bay make the effort worthwhile. It's not a technical scramble, more of a steady trudge across open ground with the sea spreading out behind you as you gain height. On a clear day you can see for miles. On a drizzly one, which is roughly 60% of the time, you get that moody Welsh hills vibe that's either atmospheric or depressing depending on your mood.

This is walker country, full stop. Families with young kids might manage it depending on their tolerance for boggy ground and a lack of facilities at the top. There's no tearoom, no café, no facilities whatsoever - just you and the weather. Bring a packed lunch if you want to sit up there. The actual peak is modest - a cairn and not much else - but that's rather the point. You're here for the walk and the views, not Instagram moments.

Allow two to three hours return depending on fitness. It's free, obviously. The best time is May to September when you're less likely to be walking through cloud. Both Woodlands Caravan Park and Brynllwyd Glamping sit about five miles away and make reasonable bases if you're planning a few days hiking in the area. Llan Ddu Fawr fits nicely into a broader Ceredigion coastal walking trip - it's close enough to Aberystwyth but feels properly remote once you're up there.