Llyn y Fawnog

The walk to Llyn y Fawnog is the thing here, not the destination itself. You're slogging uphill through moorland south of Aberystwyth, and after a proper trek you'll arrive at a small mountain lake that sits quietly in its own little cirque. The water's dark, the surrounding hills are steep, and on a clear day you can see across to Cardigan Bay. On a grey one - which is most days - it's atmospheric in that Welsh way.

It's walkers' territory, basically. Not a casual stroll. The path is rough in places, boggy in others, and you need decent boots. Family groups with young kids will struggle; teenagers who don't mind being muddy might enjoy it. History enthusiasts won't find much - it's geology and landscape rather than stories.

Allow two to three hours return from the nearest carpark. There's no fee, no facilities, no café. You bring what you need. Go in the morning if the weather's even half decent, because clouds roll in fast and when they do, the whole thing becomes rather pointless.

If you're staying at Forester's Retreat Glamping or Tyn Ffordd Fach Campsite near Aberystwyth, it's a decent half-day option to break up your park holiday. Not spectacular enough to plan a trip around, but if you're already in the area and fancy a proper walk with a bit of altitude, it's worth the effort. The lake itself is modest, but the moorland around it has a wild, lonely appeal.