Yr Henriw

A short, steep pull up from the edge of Aberystwyth takes you to Yr Henriw, a modest peak that punches well above its weight. The summit sits at around 430 metres - nothing dramatic by Welsh standards, but the views west towards Cardigan Bay and south across Ceredigion farmland make the 20-minute scramble thoroughly worthwhile.

It's the sort of walk that works brilliantly for families who want to claim a hilltop without committing to a full day's graft. The path is straightforward enough, though it does get boggy in places and the final approach is properly steep - wouldn't fancy it in the wet with small children, but in decent weather it's manageable. Allow an hour there and back, maybe longer if you're dawdling with a camera.

Walkers based at any of the nearby campsites - Tyn Ffordd Fach is less than a mile away, or Aber Camping a bit further south - can knock this off before breakfast without eating into a proper hiking day. The real appeal is its proximity to Aberystwyth itself. You're never more than a fifteen-minute stroll from the town, which means you can combine a morning peak with an afternoon wandering the seafront or tackling the funicular railway up Constitution Hill.

Go early if you're visiting in summer. Once the day trippers arrive, the whole thing feels a bit squashed. Winter or spring offers better solitude and the light's usually cracking at this time of year.