Wenallt

The woodland path at Wenallt rises steeply through mixed forest just outside Cardigan, offering proper hill-walking without the commitment of a full mountain expedition. You're threading through beech and oak with the occasional surprise of conifers planted decades ago, the ground soft with needles and leaf litter. The climb takes about twenty minutes if you're reasonably fit, and the reward is a decent vantage point over the Teifi Valley - nothing jaw-dropping, but on a clear day you can pick out the coast towards Aberteifi.

It's the kind of walk that suits families with older children and anyone after a bracing leg-stretch between beach visits. Younger kids might find the steep bits tedious, and if the ground's wet, proper boots are essential rather than optional. The whole thing takes under an hour, so it fits neatly into a morning before lunch elsewhere.

Free to access, no facilities up there - bring water. The forest can feel a bit gloomy mid-week out of season, so go when the light's decent and people are about. It works well as a counterpoint if you're basing yourself at one of the nearby parks like Brynawelon or Llety, both within six miles. Close enough to pop out for, far enough that it feels like proper countryside rather than manicured parkland. Worth the detour if you're after genuine forest rather than a stroll.