Penglais

The walk up Penglais from Aberystwyth takes about twenty minutes if you're not dawdling, and the reward is a proper 360-degree view across Cardigan Bay. On a clear day you can see the Snowdonia peaks in the distance, and the town sprawls below you in a way that makes you understand why the Victorians fell for this place so hard. The hill itself is green and open, with a radio mast at the top that's less romantic than the views but honest about what this is - a local favourite rather than some untouched wilderness moment.

Walkers and families with reasonably fit kids will find this worth an hour of their time. The path is straightforward enough, though it gets steep towards the end and the ground can be boggy after rain. There's not much to do once you're up there except sit, look out, and maybe eat a sandwich, which is precisely the point. It's free and accessible year-round, though I wouldn't recommend it in proper gales.

If you're staying at Clarach Bay or Aber Bay - both just down the road - Penglais is the obvious morning walk before breakfast, or an evening climb when the light turns golden. It slots nicely into a wider Aberystwyth weekend: head down to the seafront, check out the castle ruins, then finish with this. Not dramatic enough to be the headline act of your holiday, but exactly the sort of thing that makes a break in West Wales feel complete.