Lofft Lloyd

The walk up Lofft Lloyd isn't particularly long, but it's steep enough to get your heart going. You're climbing into proper moorland - gorse, rough grass, and that moorland quiet where you stop hearing the world below. On a clear day, the views from the top sweep across Cardigan Bay all the way to Snowdonia, which genuinely takes your breath away if you're not already winded.

It's the kind of peak that rewards effort without demanding mountaineering skills. An hour up, twenty minutes pottering about at the summit, hour back down - that's a solid morning from Aberystwyth if you're staying nearby. The ground gets boggy after rain, so proper boots matter. Come early if you're going in summer; even the quieter Welsh peaks pull weekend crowds.

Walkers and hill-baggers will find it worthwhile, though it's not dramatic enough to haul families with reluctant teenagers up here just for the sake of it. That said, if your kids actually like walking, they'll feel genuine accomplishment reaching the top. The views are proper reward for the graft.

If you're basing yourself at Brynllwyd Glamping or Woodlands Caravan Park near Aberystwyth, Lofft Lloyd pairs well with the coastal walks in the area - gives you mountain one day, seaside the next. Free to walk, obviously. No facilities at the top, so bring water and snacks.