Llandysul

Mid-Wales market towns don't get much more authentic than this riverside gem on the Teifi. Llandysul still feels properly Welsh - conversation switches between languages on the high street, and the old stone bridge over the rushing water has seen centuries of traders cross its arches. The town sits in a valley where the Teifi curves through farmland, creating those rolling green hills that make Ceredigion so distinctive.

Walk down to the river and you'll understand why this stretch was once vital for commerce. The Teifi powered mills here for generations, and you can still see remnants of that industrial past alongside the modern coracle makers who keep an ancient tradition alive. These traditional Welsh fishing boats are still crafted by hand - a skill that's UNESCO-recognised.

Cardigan lies just 15 minutes downstream, while the Cambrian Mountains rise to the east. It's proper walking country, with footpaths threading through oak woodlands and across sheep-dotted hillsides. The landscape shifts from river valley to upland moor within a few miles, giving you that sense of wild Wales without the tourist crowds.

Reaching Llandysul requires a bit of planning - the nearest train station is in Carmarthen, about 25 miles south. Most visitors drive via the A485, which winds through some lovely countryside but takes its time. That remoteness is part of the charm though.

Staying at one of the camping spots or holiday parks scattered around the valley makes perfect sense. You're positioned to explore both the coast at New Quay and Cardigan Bay, plus the inland delights of the Teifi Valley. Wild Wellingtons Glamping and Thistledown Glamping offer something more luxurious, while traditional sites like Brynawelon give you that proper camping experience among the Welsh hills.