Coed Lluest

The forest sits inland from Aberystwyth, a proper working woodland that feels genuinely wild compared to the manicured nature reserves you often find. Walking through Coed Lluest is less about finished trails and more about picking your way through whatever catches your eye - dense stands of conifers give way to open areas where you can actually see the landscape roll away toward the Cardigan Bay hills.

It's the sort of place walkers and photographers come for, particularly those who want something grittier than a twee country park. The canopy runs thick enough that even on rainy Welsh days it stays navigable, which happens regularly in Ceredigion. Allow two to three hours if you're taking it seriously; an hour if you just want a quick nose around.

Families with younger kids might find it a bit rough and ready - there's nothing signposted, no visitor centre, no café. That's either brilliant or boring depending on your tolerance for finding your own way. Teenagers with energy to burn absolutely thrive here.

If you're based at Forester's Retreat Glamping just a few miles away, this is an obvious choice for a morning walk before heading into Aberystwyth proper. The whole thing costs nothing, which is refreshing, though you'll want proper boots or good wellies - it gets muddy. Winter and early spring bring the woodland to life most dramatically, when the deciduous trees are bare enough to see through.