Llechwedd Hirgoed

The walk up Llechwedd Hirgoed rewards you with proper views across Cardigan Bay and the Cambrian Mountains - the sort of vista that makes you understand why people settle in this corner of Ceredigion. It's not a dramatic peak, more a substantial hill that takes an hour or so to climb from the nearest access points around Aberystwyth, but the effort feels worthwhile once you're up there.

Walkers will get the most from this one. It's not a casual stroll, and the paths can be muddy and steep depending on the route you take. Families with older kids who don't mind a proper hike will enjoy it; younger ones might find the ascent tedious. There's nothing built on the summit - no café, no visitor centre, just you and the landscape - which some will love and others will find disappointing.

The real appeal is that it doesn't feel commercialised. You won't find crowds, and that's partly because access information isn't widely publicised. Best visited on a clear day when visibility stretches far enough to make the climb worthwhile. In low cloud, you're just trudging uphill for views of nothing much.

If you're camping nearby - Tyn Ffordd Fach or Glangwy Farm are both within five miles - it makes a solid morning outing before heading into Aberystwyth for lunch. Works well as part of a wider walking holiday in the area rather than a destination in itself.