Pond Rhosrydd

There's a proper little lake tucked into the hills above Aberystwyth that most visitors miss entirely. Pond Rhosrydd sits quiet and unremarkable on the face of it - a small body of water ringed by moorland, nothing fancy, but that's rather the point. You get here via narrow roads that climb out of town, and the drive alone tells you something about how remote this feels despite being barely three miles from the seafront.

Walkers will get the most from it. The pond itself is best approached as a stopping point on a longer tramp across the hills rather than a destination in its own right. The water's dark and still, the banks muddy in places, and there's genuine quiet here - the kind you don't find near tourist traps. Bring binoculars if you're into birds; moorland pools like this attract waders and waterfowl. Allow an hour if you're combining it with a circular walk through the surrounding upland, longer if you're in no rush.

Campers based at any of the nearby sites - Brynllwyd or Dôl Swynol are closest at under three miles - could work this into a morning ramble without faffing about. It's free, obviously. No facilities, no car park to speak of, just pull over and go. Not one for fidgety kids or anyone expecting manicured scenery, but if you like your Wales a bit raw and empty, worth the detour.