Llanrhystud

Sheep graze on hills that roll straight down to Cardigan Bay, while the A487 winds through this sleepy Welsh village like it's got all the time in the world. Llanrhystud sits properly off the beaten track - the kind of place where you'll spot more red kites than tourists on a Tuesday afternoon.

The coastline here is properly wild. No fancy promenades or kiss-me-quick stalls, just raw Welsh coast where the Wyre meets the sea. St Rhystyd's Church anchors the village centre, its weathered stones telling stories that stretch back centuries. Worth a proper look if you're into that sort of thing.

History buffs will have a field day. Castell Bach and Castell-Mawr offer glimpses of medieval Wales, while the archaeological sites at Caer Penrhôs and Castell Talwrn reward those willing to do a bit of walking. Don't expect flashy visitor centres - these are ruins in their natural state, which frankly makes them more atmospheric.

Penrhos Golf Course provides the main leisure draw, set against those cracking coastal views. The swimming pool at Penrhos offers indoor respite when the Welsh weather turns, as it inevitably does.

Aberystwyth lies just 15 miles north up the coast road, making this stretch of Ceredigion brilliant for a proper base. The village sits roughly halfway between Aberaeron and Aberystwyth - close enough to both for day trips but far enough away to escape the crowds.

Staying at one of the nearby parks makes perfect sense. You're bang in the middle of some of Wales' most unspoilt countryside, with Cardigan Bay on your doorstep and the Cambrian Mountains beckoning inland. It's the sort of place where you can actually hear silence.