Ffynone Waterfall

The walk to Ffynone Waterfall takes you through proper Welsh countryside - the kind where the hills fold into themselves and you can actually hear the water long before you see it. It's roughly forty minutes on foot from the car park near Cardigan, through woodland that gets progressively steeper and more atmospheric as you climb. The waterfall itself isn't dramatic - there are no thunderous drops or rainbow mists - but that's rather the point. It's intimate, somehow. Water tumbles over dark rocks into a pool deep enough that locals swim in it on hot days, and the moss-covered boulders make for excellent scrambling if you're with kids who need entertaining.

Walkers and photographers will get the most out of this one. It's not a five-minute roadside stop; you need proper footwear and a reasonable level of fitness. Allow three hours for the round trip if you're taking your time and want to paddle in the pool. The terrain is muddy in wet weather - which is most of the time in Ceredigion - so come prepared.

If you're staying at Cardigan Camping or Happy Campers Family Park (both within six miles), Ffynone slots nicely into a day of exploring the wider area. Cardigan itself has enough cafes and shops to make a half-day worthwhile, but the waterfall is where the real appeal lies. Go early to avoid whoever else has worked out where it is. There's no admission charge, and no facilities at the waterfall itself, so bring water and snacks.