Llandysul

This market town on the River Teifi feels properly Welsh - the kind of place where conversations flow between English and Welsh without missing a beat. Llandysul has that lived-in quality you don't find in the touristy coastal spots, with stone cottages climbing up from the river and a high street that serves locals rather than visitors.

The River Teifi is the real draw here. It's one of Wales' finest salmon rivers, cutting through the Teifi Valley with barely a ripple most days. You can follow the old railway line that's now a walking trail, watching herons pick their way along the banks. Holy Trinity stands sentinel over the town centre, its tower visible from the surrounding hills.

Countryside spreads in all directions - proper Welsh hillsides dotted with sheep and ancient stone walls. The Teifi Valley Railway used to connect this area to the coast, and you can still trace bits of the old route on foot. Newcastle Emlyn sits just downstream, while Lampeter with its university lies a short drive inland.

Getting here means winding through narrow lanes from the A484 or A486. The nearest proper town is Carmarthen, about 25 minutes south. Most visitors use Llandysul as a jumping-off point for exploring the Teifi Valley or heading to the Ceredigion coast.

Staying at one of the holiday parks around Llandysul puts you right in the heart of proper Welsh countryside. You're close enough to reach Cardigan Bay's beaches in half an hour, but far enough inland to enjoy the peace of the valley. The parks like Pencnwc Holiday Park and The Village Holiday Park offer a quiet base for exploring both the coast and the Cambrian Mountains without the crowds.