Places to visit from Aberaeron

Aberaeron is centrally located on the coast of Cardigan Bay being just a short drive to New Quay, Aberystwyth or  Cardigan. A drive inland towards Lampeter, Tregaron and the Cambrian Mountains can also be part of your holiday in this beautiful and diverse area.

New Quay  - 'Cei Newydd'

- with Its picturesque houses, pubs and restaurants clings to the sides of the hills rising above the blue waters of Cardigan Bay on the coast of West Wales. The town has narrow streets rising in terraces - between several of which were 'ropewalks' for twisting rope in New Quay's heyday as a shipbuilding centre (see: New Quay's history). The sheltered harbour and safe beaches - the focus of activity in the summer when New Quay becomes a bustling and vibrant holiday resort where sailing, fishing, watersports and relaxation, are among the main attractions.  

Cilgerran Castle

Is just to the east of Cardigan. There is canoeing available in the Gorge below. The Castle stands on a precipitous, craggy promontory overlooking the river Teifi where it merges with the Plysgog stream. The Teifi here is just at its tidal limit, so the castle was able to control both a natural crossing point and the passage of seagoing ships. We cannot be sure when this strong site was first fortified. It may be the same time as a Norman castle called 'Cenarth Bychan' . Cilgerran is first mentioned by name in 1164, when the Lord Rhys captured the castle.

Mwnt beach is near Cardigan. A beautiful National Trust Beach with lots of parking and an ancient 6th century  church. Click on the photo for more beaches.

This is a National Trust Property and has a large pay car park on top of the cliffs. There is a small gift shop part way down the path to the beach.

Aberystwyth

The town of Aberystwyth is the largest town in West Wales. As well as having a wide variety of shops and a market, 'Aber' hosts the National Library and the Ceredigion Museum. Also worth visiting is the cliff railway and the Camera Obscura on Constitution Hill. 

Aberystwyth Castle was built by Edward I  in 1277 and is now largely ruined.

- runs tourist trips from Aberystwyth station for 11¾ miles from Aberystwyth to Devil's Bridge. The terminus is adjacent to the national network station at Aberystwyth, and on the hour-long journey passengers have spectacular views of the wooded Rheidol Valley - views unseen for decades until the railway began its renovation programme ten years ago. AT Devil's Bridge you can view the famous '3 bridges' and take a walk through the valley to view the falls - see below. Telephone 01970 625819

Devil's Bridge is named after a local legend from medieval times. The first bridge was built in the 11th century and the 2 more modern bridges built above it. Thee is a pay turnstile to view the bridges and the river gorge below it, and another on the other side of the road to walk the trail down the valley and back to view the falls. The long trail is quite strenuous and not suitable for those who don't like long steep tracks. The scenery around Devil's Bridge is quite spectacular and the mountains in this area were the location of an important lead and silver mining operation in the 18th and 19th centuries.

In the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, Mining was economically very important in Cardiganshire. Centered on the Plynlimon Mountains inland from Aberystwyth, the mines are now all largely derelict with almost none of the buildings intact.

Anyone interested in mining could spend an interesting half day wandering about the valley. Alternatively you could visit the Llywernog mine and Museum which is open to the public and features a tour of the old mineshaft - see below

This is an authentic 18th century silver mine. A visit to Llywernog offers a fascinating insight into life nearly 200 years ago, when the mine employed over 60 people. Today, Llywernog is a fascinating and educational family adventure, and continues to be developed as a major all-weather attraction. On the A44 - 15 minutes drive from Aberystwyth . 45 minutes from Aberaeron, Machynlleth & Rhyader. Tel: 01970 890620

Cenarth and Cenarth Falls

The charming conservation village of Cenarth, huddled around its spectacular falls, is a real beauty spot. On the river Teifi between Cardigan and Newcastle Emlyn, it has a number of museums and attractions including the National Coracle Museum. The falls, a multitude of low waterfalls cascading over rock and boulders, punctuate the River Teifi as it tumbles to its estuary at Cardigan Bay. Click on the photo for more about Cenarth.

Cors Caron - Tregaron Bog

Cors Caron is a nature reserve run by
the Countryside Council for Wales. There are boardwalks across the bog.

12,000 years ago mid-Wales was in the grip of the last Ice Age. As the climate warmed, the glaciers receded and a large shallow lake occupied this valley. A huge reed bed and woodland developed, but the climate became cooler and wetter, allowing the sphagnum mosses to invade and begin the process of building three raised bogs. Click on the photo for more information

Dyfi Furnace

When traveling between Aberystwyth and Machynlleth, there is a convenient stop at Furnace where you can view the old Dyfi Furnace. There is adequate parking here on the other side of the road.

The furnace here was constructed around 1755 for smelting iron ore, with fuel  from local woods. The waterwheel  powered a huge pair of bellows which supplied the air for the blast furnace. 

Pentre Ifan

One of the  most popular archaeological sites in Wales, Pentre Ifan is a splendid megalithic burial chamber with a huge capstone carefuly balanced on three uprights. Pentre Ifan means Ivan's Village, although it has been known as 'Arthurs' Quoit'. Pentre Ifan dates back to  3500 BC and  stands on  a ridge above the Nevern Valley near Newport in Pembrokeshire. The  capstone weighs over 16 tons and  is 16ft 6in  long and 8ft off the ground. 

Pentre Ifan is easily accessed from a minor road over a good footpath.

Centre for Alternative Technology

C.A.T. is at Corris, just north of Machynlleth. It has many exhibits relating to renewable energy resources and sustainability.  They offer solutions to some of the most serious challenges facing our planet and the human race, such as climate change, pollution and the waste of precious resources.

They demonstrate practical ways of addressing these problems. Leading by example, they aim to show that living more sustainably is not only easy to attain but can provide a better quality of life. Tel: 01654 705988

Dolaucothi Roman Gold Mines, Pumpsaint, Llanwrda, Carmarthenshire

Unique National Trust Roman gold mine set amid wooded hillsides on the road from Lampeter to Llanwrda. Guided tours take visitors through the Roman and the more recent underground workings. 

There are splendid views of the beautiful Cothi Valley and three estate walks, as well as a New exhibition on mining history.  Tel: 01558 650177

The National Botanic Garden of Wales, Middleton Hall, Llanarthne, Carmarthenshire,

Working with the National Museum of Wales and the Countryside Council for Wales, the Garden is collecting the seeds of, and propagating, some of Wales's rarest plants. These include Britain's rarest and most critically-endangered trees. The Great Glasshouse, the Garden's iconic visitor attraction which houses plants from the Earth's Mediterranean climatic regions, doubles up as a refuge for some of the world's rarest plants. Tel: 01558 668768

Provides public access to the visitor centre and the ungrazed woodland section of the reserve. The reserve is on the south side of the Dyfi estuary and offers a wide range of habitats: salt and freshwater marsh, reed bed, peat bog, woodland and open hillside. Sixty-seven species of bird breed here regularly. The Reserve is open daily. The visitor centre is open daily 9.00am-5.00pm March-September and weekend opening October until February. Signposted from Eglwysfach on A487 north of Aberystwyth. Tel: 01654 781265

Visitors can enjoy the spectacle of Red Kite feeding - at 3pm every day (2 pm in the winter) - walks in the forest and snacks in the lakeside visitor centre. Open year round except Christmas day and boxing day: 10.00am-5.00pm (longer in summer months). Walks and picnic sites are open all year. East of Aberystwyth on the A44 near Llywernog. Tel: 01970 890694

Enjoy a visit to the tropical house, near Cardigan, where visitors can wander amidst exotic plants and butterflies.

Open first Sunday in May-end September from 10.30am-5.00pm. West of Blaenannerch on A487, turn to Aberporth on the B4333 and follow Rainforest Centre signs. Tel: 01239 810882