Ceredigion

Ceredigion's coastline runs from Aberystwyth, a lively university town with a promenade, castle ruins and a cliff railway, down through Borth's long shingle beach, the harbour village of Aberaeron with its coloured houses, and on to New Quay and Llangrannog, both popular for their sandy coves and dolphin-watching trips. Aberporth offers a quieter seaside stay, while Cardigan, at the mouth of the Teifi, combines a market town feel with easy access to the coast path.

Inland, the pace slows further. Lampeter and Llandysul serve the Teifi valley with markets and country pursuits, Tregaron sits at the edge of wild upland moor good for walking, and Llanrhystud and Llanarth are small, peaceful villages linking the coast to the countryside behind it. Together these places suit anyone wanting either a bustling harbour day out or a calm rural base.

Ceredigion's coast and countryside are well served by small hotels and family-run B&Bs, with the widest choice around Aberystwyth, where seafront and town-centre options like Flambards Hotel & Tearoom and Townhouse No1 sit within walking distance of the promenade and station. Cardigan offers a similar mix, with Albion Aberteifi and Y Grange giving easy access to the harbour, shops and the Teifi valley beyond.

Away from these two towns, places such as Gwynfro, Penybont, Bro Dafydd and Bryncoed tend to be quieter countryside or farmhouse-style stays, useful for touring the coast path or exploring inland villages at a slower pace. The Old Vicarage B and B and Troedyrhiw Bed and Breakfast fall somewhere between the two, offering a settled base with easy runs into either town. Deciding between them often comes down to whether you want to be near the shops and beaches or tucked into the surrounding hills.

Ceredigion's attractions lean heavily on its coast and countryside, with beaches such as Mwnt, Tresaith and Aberporth drawing families for rock pools and clifftop walks, while the Pembrokeshire Coast Path National Trail continues the theme further south towards Cardigan. Boat trips from New Quay offer a chance of dolphin sightings, a highlight for anyone staying along this stretch of coastline.

Inland and around the main towns, the choice broadens considerably. Aberystwyth has the Vale of Rheidol Railway and the Mwldan cinema and arts venue nearby in Cardigan, while Llanerchaeron near Aberaeron gives a look at National Trust rural life through its Georgian villa and working estate. Smaller, hands-on options like Make & Paint Pottery & Jewellery Class and The Loft Wales suit a rainy afternoon or a quieter day out away from the beaches.

Ceredigion's dining scene follows its coastline and its students, with Aberystwyth holding the biggest concentration of restaurants, cafes and pubs, from steakhouses like Holdens to quick options such as the Port Kebab House and Express Cafe. It's a town used to feeding a term-time population, so menus range widely and prices stay sensible.

Along the coast, New Quay and Borth offer a more seasonal, seaside character, with places like The Watch House and Borth Community Hub reflecting the slower pace outside summer. Inland and around the smaller villages, expect pubs and spots such as Pennau or Llond Plat that double as the social hub as much as the place to eat.

Ciao Ciao and The Hut show the variety on offer beyond the obvious harbourside chippy, and with 227 listed across the county, choosing often comes down to whether you want a proper sit-down meal or somewhere to break a coastal walk.

Ceredigion's coastline and inland farmland make it well suited to camping and glamping, with pitches ranging from clifftop fields near Aberaeron and Llanrhystud to wooded valleys around Llandysul and Lampeter. Coastal sites such as Ynyslas Camping near Borth put you close to dunes and beach, while places like Carreg y Gwynt Caravan and Camping offer a more traditional touring base.

Inland, the county's quieter farms and woodland have given rise to a good spread of glamping, from yurts at Glan Mydyr Woodland Yurts to structures at Babbling Brook Glamping and Thistledown Glamping. Smaller certificated sites, such as Five Oaks, suit those after a simple, low-key stopover, while working farms like Cilbronnau Farm and Ffosygrafel Isaf Camping give a more rural, hands-on feel near Cardigan and Llanarth.

Ceredigion's coast and hills are well suited to self-catering, with cottages scattered from the harbour towns of New Quay and Aberaeron down to the quieter inland valleys around Tregaron and Lampeter. Properties like Ty Canol, Cledan and Ivy Bush Cottage give a sense of the range on offer, from simple bolt-holes to converted farm buildings set well back from the road.

Coastal spots suit anyone wanting beaches, cliff paths and dolphin-watching within easy reach, while cottages further inland, such as those at Faerdre Manor or Penrhiw Pistyll, tend to come with more land, better stargazing and a stronger sense of remoteness. Many, including Brynllin Holiday Cottages and Allt Ddu, sit in small clusters of two or three cottages, useful for family groups travelling together but wanting separate space.

With 317 cottages across the county, it is worth deciding early whether you want to be near the sea or tucked into farmland, as the character of a stay here changes considerably between the two.