Rock Garden, Consti

The walk up to Rock Garden takes you through scrubby coastal woodland just north of Aberystwyth, climbing steadily until you break through the trees and suddenly the Bristol Channel opens up in front of you. It's a proper viewpoint - the kind where you actually stop and stand still for a moment because the view demands it.

From up here you get uninterrupted views across the water towards Devon and Somerset on clear days, and down the Welsh coast in both directions. The rock formations themselves are nothing fancy - just the natural outcrops that give the place its name - but they make good vantage points for photographs and sitting about. On a blustery afternoon I watched kestrels wheeling overhead, which adds something to the experience.

This works best for walkers with decent legs - it's a proper climb, nothing technical but sweaty - and for anyone after a quiet spot away from Aberystwyth's seafront bustle. You won't find crowds here. Kids might get fidgety unless they're the hiking type; it's about the walk and the views rather than facilities or activities.

Allow an hour return trip from the town if you're taking it leisurely. There's no charge that I could find, and it's accessible year-round, though winter gales can be fierce. If you're staying at Clarach Bay Holiday Village or Aber Bay just down the coast, this makes a solid morning outing before hitting the beach. It's the sort of place locals know and visitors miss - which is precisely why it's worth the effort.