Shoreline Guest House

The scent of salt air drifts up from Cardigan Bay, and on clear mornings you can hear gulls calling over the rooftops before you've even opened your eyes.

This small guest house sits in Aberystwyth, the seaside university town where the Cambrian coast curves westward and the Rheidol Valley opens out to meet the sea. It's a straightforward choice if you're after a proper bed after walking the coastal path or exploring the hills inland, though there's also a camping pod if you fancy something a bit closer to the outdoors. Dogs are welcome by arrangement, so worth asking ahead if you're travelling with one. The town itself has all the cafés, chip shops and Victorian seafront charm you'd expect, plus the cliff railway and castle ruins if the weather turns.

Campfires need checking on arrival — there may be a designated spot or restrictions depending on where you're staying. It's open year-round, so equally good for a summer beach trip or a wild winter weekend watching storms roll in off the bay.