Llyn-yr-Oerfa

Getting to Llyn-yr-Oerfa means leaving Aberystwyth behind and heading into proper hill country. This is a small mountain lake, the kind of spot where you'll likely have the water to yourself unless you've timed it badly on a summer weekend. The walk in takes you through moorland with views that stretch across Ceredigion - nothing dramatic, but the sort of thing that clears your head after an hour in the car.

It's a decent destination for walkers rather than swimmers, though the lake itself is there if you fancy a dip (locals do, though I'd check the temperature first). The real appeal is the walk itself - rolling hills, few people, and that particular Welsh emptiness that makes you feel like you've properly escaped. Kids will get bored if you're thinking a quick hour round trip, but teenagers who enjoy hiking will appreciate it.

There's no visitor centre, no facilities, no entrance fee. Just park nearby and walk. You'll need to be self-sufficient for water and snacks. The best time is spring or early autumn when the weather's clearer and you're not fighting midges.

If you're camped at one of the sites round Aberystwyth - Aber Camping or Tyn Ffordd Fach are closest - this makes a proper half-day excursion. Combine it with a morning in Aberystwyth itself and you've got a solid day sorted. The walk's what matters here, not the destination.