Llanarth

Rolling farmland stretches inland from this quiet Ceredigion village, where Welsh-speaking communities have farmed the same fields for centuries. Llanarth sits just a few miles from the coast, making it an unassuming base for exploring some of Wales' most unspoilt countryside. The village itself won't detain you long - there's a pub, a chapel, and not much else - but that's rather the point.

Cardigan Bay lies within easy striking distance, offering proper coastal walks along cliffs that haven't been sanitised for mass tourism. New Quay, about twenty minutes east, delivers dolphin-spotting boat trips and decent fish and chips. Aberaeron's colour-washed Georgian houses make for a lovely afternoon potter, especially when the harbour's busy with small boats.

Inland walks reveal a landscape that tourism hasn't quite discovered yet. Stone walls divide ancient fields where sheep graze between patches of gorse and bracken. It's proper Welsh countryside - the sort where you might walk for an hour and meet only a farmer checking on livestock.

Getting here requires a car unless you fancy a bit of a trek from Aberaeron. The A487 coastal road connects you to larger towns, while smaller lanes wind through valleys that feel wonderfully remote. Staying at one of the nearby parks puts you within reach of both coast and countryside without the crowds that descend on more famous Welsh destinations. It's ideal if you prefer your holidays on the quiet side.