Llandysul

The Teifi Valley Railway cuts through countryside that feels properly Welsh - rolling hills dotted with sheep and stone walls that have stood for centuries. Llandysul sits beside the River Teifi in west Wales, a working town where Welsh is still the first language you'll hear in the shops and pubs.

Most visitors come for the railway heritage. The Teifi Valley Railway runs heritage trains through some of the most beautiful countryside in Ceredigion, stopping at restored stations like Henllan and Forest Halt. The Teifi Valley Railway Museum tells the story of this narrow-gauge line that once carried slate and livestock.

Beyond the trains, there's the National Wool Museum - Amgueddfa Wlân Cymru - which showcases Wales' textile heritage in a Victorian woollen mill. It's fascinating stuff, especially when you see the old machinery in action. The Museum of Childhood of West Wales offers a nostalgic trip through Welsh family life.

Walking is superb here. The forests of Allt Llwyn-Cadfor and Allt y Ffynnon provide proper hill walking with cracking views over the Teifi valley. The river itself is excellent for canoeing and fishing - brown trout and salmon run these waters.

Carmarthen is your nearest big town, about 20 minutes by car. The A484 brings you straight here from the coast at Cardigan, which is well worth the 15-minute drive for its castle and riverside walks.

Staying at one of the local holiday parks puts you right in the heart of this quiet corner of Wales. You're perfectly placed for both the heritage railways and the stunning Ceredigion coast, while the Cambrian Mountains are an easy drive north for serious hill walking.