Dan-coed-mawr Wood

A proper woodland walk rather than a destination in itself, Dan-coed-mawr Wood sits near Llandysul and offers the kind of thing you'd do on a grey Welsh afternoon when you've got a couple of hours to kill. The forest is dense - ancient oak and beech mostly - with paths that wind through damp undergrowth and the occasional stream crossing. It's the sort of place where you'll actually hear birds instead of just seeing them, and the light filters through the canopy in that particular way that makes you forget what day it is.

Walkers will get the most from it. It's not a stroll-and-stop kind of wood; you need decent boots and should plan on spending at least an hour here if you want to do it properly. Families with young children might find it a bit muddy and samey after thirty minutes, though older kids who like exploring will be fine. The woodland doesn't have the drama of somewhere like Coed Cambrian - no dramatic viewpoints or obvious landmarks - but that's rather the point. It's intimate and quiet.

If you're staying at The Three Spaniels just down the road, it's a convenient way to stretch your legs without driving. Free access as far as I can tell, though there's no proper visitor infrastructure. Go in winter when it's least crowded, or early morning if you want to avoid other walkers. Worth an afternoon if you're in Ceredigion, but don't plan a half-day trip around it alone.