Allt Byrn-gwyn

The forest here is properly dense - all towering conifers and dark earth underfoot, the sort of place where you lose track of time within five minutes of the car park. Allt Byrn-gwyn sits just inland from Aberaeron, that charming seaside town on the Cardigan Bay coast, making it an easy detour if you're staying at Aeron Coast Caravan Park or Camping on the Farm nearby.

It's a working woodland rather than a manicured visitor attraction, which means there's no visitor centre, no cafe, and no entrance fee - you just turn up and walk. The paths wind through the trees with enough variation to keep things interesting for a couple of hours. Families with younger kids will find it manageable; older walkers and hikers get a proper sense of being in actual forest rather than a themed experience.

Bring decent boots. The ground's boggy in places even after dry weather, and the paths aren't always obvious. Go in the cooler months if you can - summer brings the midges in hard, and they're relentless. Allow two to three hours if you want to do a proper circuit rather than a quick stroll.

It works best as part of a broader coastal walk rather than a standalone destination. The Ceredigion coast nearby offers far better views, but if you're caravan-based and fancy a morning in the trees before heading down to Aberaeron for lunch, this does the job without any faffing about.