Mwnt

Mwnt is a hidden gem on the Ceredigion coast: a small, steep-sided sandy cove tucked beneath the distinctive conical hill of Foel y Mwnt, with a tiny whitewashed pilgrim church nearby. It's one of the best cetacean-watching spots in Wales, and bottlenose dolphins, porpoises and grey seals are regular in the bay. That wildlife richness is exactly why you fly carefully here. The land - the hill, the church field and the car park - is National Trust, which bans take-off and landing from its property, so descend the steep steps and launch from the beach foreshore below high water (Crown Estate), keeping the aircraft over open sea and off the wildlife. The whole of Cardigan Bay is a Special Area of Conservation for dolphins, so never chase or descend on marine mammals. Worth noting: the Aberporth/Cardigan Bay unmanned-aircraft danger area and range lie up the coast to the northeast, roughly 12km away - clear of a flight here but relevant regional airspace. No airport FRZ affects the cove. The reward is a jewel of a composition: green cone, gold sand, turquoise water. Best at a summer dawn before walkers arrive and while the light is soft.