Pen Pumlumon Llygad-Bychan

The walk up Pen Pumlumon Llygad-Bychan is steep enough that you'll feel it in your legs, but the payoff is proper worth it. This 752-metre peak sits just inland from Aberystwyth, and on a clear day you get views that stretch across Cardigan Bay and back toward the Cambrian Mountains. The summit itself is fairly bare - a cairn and not much else - but that's rather the point. You're up here for the light and the space.

It's a walk for people who like proper walking, not a stroll. Most visitors allow two to three hours for the round trip, depending on fitness and how many times you stop to catch your breath. The paths are decent enough but can be boggy in wet weather, so proper boots matter. There's no visitor centre, no facilities at the top, and no entrance fee - it's open access moorland, the way these things should be.

Families with younger children might find it a bit much; older kids who enjoy a challenge would get something from it. History types won't find much up there, but walkers absolutely will. The nearby Forester's Retreat Glamping and tyn ffordd fach campsite both sit within easy reach if you're basing yourself in the area for a few days of exploring the Ceredigion hills. Pair it with gentler walks around Aberystwyth itself and you've got a decent little break.