Ynyslas National Nature Reserve

The estuary at Ynyslas is one of those places that shifts depending on the tide and the season. You get vast stretches of sand, mudflats teeming with wading birds, and if you're lucky, the occasional seal poking its head up. It's a proper nature reserve - managed by the Wildlife Trust - and the whole point is that it stays wild and relatively undisturbed.

This isn't a visitor attraction with a car park and a cafe, though Borth sits just across the way if you need supplies. Instead, it's a destination for walkers and birdwatchers who actually want to watch birds rather than just look at a board telling them what birds live there. The paths wind through dunes and along the shoreline, and the views across Cardigan Bay are genuinely worth the trek. Low tide reveals the full estuary, which is when you'll see the most wading birds. Come in spring or autumn for migration season if you're serious about spotting something unusual.

Families with young children might find it a bit samey after thirty minutes unless they're genuinely into nature. Older kids who can handle a decent walk and don't need constant entertainment will have a much better time. The reserve is free to access - that's the proper Welsh way - though donations to the Wildlife Trust are always welcome.

Stay at Cambrian Coast Holiday Park just up the coast and you've got the whole Ceredigion shoreline on your doorstep. Searivers is closer if you want minimal fuss. Both put you well-positioned for exploring Ynyslas and the wider estuary without feeling rushed.