Cambrian View Farm

Eyeing up Aberaeron (25 minutes’ drive)? Along the Wales Coast Path and The Coastal Way, it might be tempting to stop by only briefly, but a day in Aberaeron is just as splendid. The Georgian harbour town is frequented by bottlenose dolphins. New Quay (40 minutes), further along Cardigan Bay, is the place to go for dolphin-spotting trips, by the way. In Aber, the pet name for pretty Aberystwyth (half an hour), there’s a 13th-century castle, arts centre and a library with the smallest book in the world. Add to that a Victorian promenade and the oldest pier in Wales, and you’ve got a jam-packed day right there (with ample rides on the cliff railway too, probably). If you feel like a little or a lot of walking, simply make your way to Hafod Estate (25 minutes), where there are trails through wooded valleys, parkland and a rocky gorge. Elan Valley (an hour and 10 minutes) has been used for various things over the years – mining, religious sites and the 1840s Rebecca Riots, but the dam scenery makes for a spectacular walk or two. Bike hire is available and there are mountain biking trails for those wanting a downhill tumble.