Llyn Fyrddon fach

The walk down to Llyn Fyrddon Fach takes you through proper Welsh countryside - steep sided valley, dense woodland, the kind of place where you genuinely feel miles from anywhere despite being only twenty minutes from Aberystwyth. The lake itself is small and intimate, ringed by trees that come right down to the water's edge. It's the sort of spot where you'll likely have the place to yourself, especially midweek.

This is fundamentally a walkers' destination. You're not coming here for facilities or a café - there aren't any. What you get is solitude, a decent bit of exercise getting there and back, and views that feel earned rather than handed to you. The descent is manageable but the return journey is a proper leg-burner. Most people allow between two and three hours total, though you could dawdle longer if you're the type who likes to sit by water with a book.

Kids will manage it if they're used to walking, though the steep bits mean keeping a close eye on younger ones. Photographers might find something worthwhile here, particularly in golden hour when the trees create that moody Welsh light. The water itself is clear enough and cold enough to cool off in during summer, which some visitors do.

If you're staying at Woodlands Caravan Park or Brynllwyd Glamping, this makes a solid half-day outing - not far enough to be an expedition but far enough to feel like you've actually gone somewhere. The lack of signposting and facilities is actually part of the appeal here; it keeps the crowds away.