Tal y Fan

Tal y Fan sits about 1,400 feet above Aberystwyth, and on a clear day the walk up is genuinely worth your time. The peak itself is modest - you're not looking at dramatic rocky summits here - but the views across Cardigan Bay and back towards the Cambrian Mountains justify the leg work.

It's a straightforward walk, maybe 90 minutes there and back depending on your pace and how long you linger at the top. The path starts from the Aberystwyth side and climbs steadily through open moorland. No scrambling, no technical bits, just proper hill-walking terrain. Come on a decent day though - mist rolls in fast around here, and you'll see nothing but grey.

Walkers will get the most from this one. Families with older kids who don't mind a bit of a slog will find it manageable, though younger ones might find the exposed moorland a bit bleak. History buffs won't find much to investigate up there, but the landscape itself tells you plenty about rural Wales.

The nearby camping options - Aber Camping and tyn ffordd fach are closest to town - work well as bases if you're building a wider walking holiday in Ceredigion. Combine it with walks around Aberystwyth itself or the coastal paths nearby and you've got a solid few days sorted. Free to access, as with most Welsh peaks. Best visited spring through autumn when the weather's less likely to ruin the whole thing.