Eirian's Guidebook
Food scene and sightseeing
8 minutes drive from the cottage:-
Aberaeron harbour is a beautiful town.
With chip shops, cafes, shops, restaurants and bars in close vicinity.
The harbour wall is hugely popular for crabbing - especially with families. Get yourself a spool of fishing line from and some bait and a bucket and then watch the children excitedly pulling hungry crabs out of the harbour water. Just make sure you put them back safely afterwards!
While the kids are entertained, get yourself a pint or an ice cream and watch the boats in the harbour while admiring Aberaeron’s multi-coloured houses - a legacy of the fishermen forefathers of this small community.
Once, as the story has it, fishermen would paint their terrace homes around the dock in varying colours so they could recognise their own as they returned from the sea.
123 íbúar mæla með
Aberaeron
8 minutes drive from the cottage:-
Aberaeron harbour is a beautiful town.
With chip shops, cafes, shops, restaurants and bars in close vicinity.
The harbour wall is hugely popular for crabbing - especially with families. Get yourself a spool of fishing line from and some bait and a bucket and then watch the children excitedly pulling hungry crabs out of the harbour water. Just make sure you put them back safely afterwards!
While the kids are entertained, get yourself a pint or an ice cream and watch the boats in the harbour while admiring Aberaeron’s multi-coloured houses - a legacy of the fishermen forefathers of this small community.
Once, as the story has it, fishermen would paint their terrace homes around the dock in varying colours so they could recognise their own as they returned from the sea.
20 minutes drive from the cottage:-
New Quay is one of the 'hotspots' for spotting Cardigan bay's bottlenose dolphins, from the shore as well as from a guided boat trip. Both the Wildlife Trust of South West Wales and the Seawatch foundation have a base in New Quay.
There is choice of trips available, with experienced boat skippers and guides who know the best and most appropriate places to spot wildlife.
Tours vary in length from one hour excursions to whole day trips lasting 8 hours. Choose from 1 hour, 1.5 hours, 2 hours, 4 hours and 8+ hour trips. Check the individual boat operators sites for timetables, fares. Look out for Atlantic Grey Seals in the secluded coves and sea caves, especially when the female 'cows' need peace to give birth and rear their young pups in autumn. Seals can often be seen from the coast path, especially around Mwnt, Cwmtydu and Bird Rock near New Quay. Many caves and waterfalls are best and safely viewed from a boat - there are regular trips are available .
Bird's Rock, on the Ceredigion coast path just south of New Quay, is one of the best places to see Ceredigion's marine wildlife, including grey seals and bottlenose dolphins as well as the colonies of guillemots crowding onto the rocky ledges.
Other birds to look out for along the Ceredigion coast include razorbills, kittiwake, fulmar, shag and gannets, the UK’s largest seabirds.
New Quay bay has three very different, beautiful and popular beaches. Harbour Beach is New Quay's main beach, tucked below the sloping terraces of the village and sheltered from the prevailing weather by the harbour wall. A designated Blue Flag beach, with clean, clear water, a designated safe swimming area and soft, fine sand, Harbour beach is a firm favourite with families.
The Blue Flag Award is a safe, sandy beach with soft sand, ideal for sunbathing and sandcastles. Sheltered by the harbour wall and cliffs, it is one of Ceredigion's most popular beaches.
Harbour beach is also the base for the Cardigan Bay Watersports Centre activity, and also provides mooring for local and visiting sailing boats. The annual New Quay regatta takes place on the beach, on and in the water each August, as well as the annual New Year's day swim after a race across the beach to be first in the water.
The smaller Dolau beach lies below low cliffs on the other side of the harbour wall. It has pebbles, rocks and sand that is a little coarser. Dogs are welcome on Dolau beach at any time of the year.
Smooth ramps, which become sandier as they get closer to the shore, make access to both beaches easy.
New Quay's other beach - Traeth Gwyn (or Llanina beach) is much wilder, and popular with dog walkers who can enjoy a walk along the beach at any time of the year. It extends in a broad sweep towards Llanina point for almost a mile from the boulder strewn stream that divides it from the Harbour beach. At low tide it is a wide sandy beach, backed by shingle and boulders, but at high water it can become cut off.
102 íbúar mæla með
New Quay
20 minutes drive from the cottage:-
New Quay is one of the 'hotspots' for spotting Cardigan bay's bottlenose dolphins, from the shore as well as from a guided boat trip. Both the Wildlife Trust of South West Wales and the Seawatch foundation have a base in New Quay.
There is choice of trips available, with experienced boat skippers and guides who know the best and most appropriate places to spot wildlife.
Tours vary in length from one hour excursions to whole day trips lasting 8 hours. Choose from 1 hour, 1.5 hours, 2 hours, 4 hours and 8+ hour trips. Check the individual boat operators sites for timetables, fares. Look out for Atlantic Grey Seals in the secluded coves and sea caves, especially when the female 'cows' need peace to give birth and rear their young pups in autumn. Seals can often be seen from the coast path, especially around Mwnt, Cwmtydu and Bird Rock near New Quay. Many caves and waterfalls are best and safely viewed from a boat - there are regular trips are available .
Bird's Rock, on the Ceredigion coast path just south of New Quay, is one of the best places to see Ceredigion's marine wildlife, including grey seals and bottlenose dolphins as well as the colonies of guillemots crowding onto the rocky ledges.
Other birds to look out for along the Ceredigion coast include razorbills, kittiwake, fulmar, shag and gannets, the UK’s largest seabirds.
New Quay bay has three very different, beautiful and popular beaches. Harbour Beach is New Quay's main beach, tucked below the sloping terraces of the village and sheltered from the prevailing weather by the harbour wall. A designated Blue Flag beach, with clean, clear water, a designated safe swimming area and soft, fine sand, Harbour beach is a firm favourite with families.
The Blue Flag Award is a safe, sandy beach with soft sand, ideal for sunbathing and sandcastles. Sheltered by the harbour wall and cliffs, it is one of Ceredigion's most popular beaches.
Harbour beach is also the base for the Cardigan Bay Watersports Centre activity, and also provides mooring for local and visiting sailing boats. The annual New Quay regatta takes place on the beach, on and in the water each August, as well as the annual New Year's day swim after a race across the beach to be first in the water.
The smaller Dolau beach lies below low cliffs on the other side of the harbour wall. It has pebbles, rocks and sand that is a little coarser. Dogs are welcome on Dolau beach at any time of the year.
Smooth ramps, which become sandier as they get closer to the shore, make access to both beaches easy.
New Quay's other beach - Traeth Gwyn (or Llanina beach) is much wilder, and popular with dog walkers who can enjoy a walk along the beach at any time of the year. It extends in a broad sweep towards Llanina point for almost a mile from the boulder strewn stream that divides it from the Harbour beach. At low tide it is a wide sandy beach, backed by shingle and boulders, but at high water it can become cut off.
20 minutes drive from the cottage
Aberystwyth, known as 'Aber', is a town with wider horizons than its rural coastline setting and relaxed lifestyle might suggest. As a university town, it's a melting pot of cultures and ideas: museums, archives and galleries reveal a depth of heritage to be discovered: - first, oldest,longest, best....
The Aberystwyth seafront and streets still retains much of their Georgian and Victorian character, with bow windows, colonnaded doorways and elegant proportions, whilst there are street names that suggest that the town is even older, which indeed it is.
To see where the earliest inhabitants of Aberystwyth lived, visit Pendinas hillfort, just to the south of today's harbour.
Great Darkgate Street is Aberystwyth's main commercial street; there's also a Northgate Street and Eastgate which mark the boundary of the town that grew around the 12th century castle.
Bath Street, Pier Street and Chalybeate Street hint at more leisurely pursuits of a holiday resort.
Authorised by an 1897 Act of Parliament and opened in 1902, the Vale of Rheidol railway's locomotives and carriages, some of which are still in use today on the line, were built by the Great Western Railway. A trip inland on the narrow gauge, steam railway is the best ways to see the spectacular valley landscape and waterfalls of the Rheidol valley between Aberystwyth and Devil's Bridge. There are special excursions too, with music, food and themed trips for Christmas and Halloween.
On the same day that the railway station opened, so did Aberystwyth's Royal Pier - the first in Wales. It was 800 feet long (approximately 248m) but it was damaged by severe storms the following year. The promenade and town developed, complete with new hotels, assembly rooms, concert hall, theatre, bandstand and saltwater bathing pools.
Promenade Panoramas
For a great view of the town, just as the Victorian and Edwardian health seekers did, climb Constitution Hill; or if you prefer, the Cliff Railway (opened in 1896, and until recently the longest ) provides a more leisurely alternative, as well as fantastic views. At the summit of Constitution Hill, the Victoria Camera Obscura, projects an intriguing bird’s eye view of the scenery.
Aberystwyth is justifiably famous for its glorious sunsets, spectacular winter storms and starling murmurations. From autumn through to early spring, the birds swirl in harmony across the evening sky before coming into roost under the pier each night.
Aberystwyth - Celtic capital of culture
Overlooking Aberystwyth town is the imposing building that houses the National Library of Wales. It may have over five million books on its shelves, but it's nothing like an ordinary library - you can't even take out a borrowed book. It is much, much more. It's the place to get an insight into Welsh culture through film, sound, art, maps and documents, and there are exhibitions, talks, concerts and behind the scenes guided tours. If you've got Welsh ancestry, you can trace your roots here too.
And they've got (one of) the best views in Aberystwyth!
Aberystwyth Arts Centre is a little bit further up Penglais Hill, on the University's main campus. The centre hosts world class performers and artists in its theatres, galleries and studios. The Centre includes exhibition spaces, a theatre, cinema and concert hall as well as artists' studios, book and gift shops. Despite lots going on, it a friendly, relaxed place, and another of those Aberystwyth spots that has fantastic views - the sunsets are famous!
concert
The Aberystwyth University School of Art, close to the centre of Aberystwyth town, has a collection of fine and decorative art from the 15th century to 21st century contemporary art, and has changing exhibitions from its collections as well as graduate shows.
Aberystwyth - gateway to Ceredigion heritage
Ceredigion has a rich cultural and folkloric heritage. The Ceredigion Archives at Aberystwyth town library has a wealth of material about the county's great mansions and their estates such as Hafod, Nanteos and Trawsgoed, the county's pubs and 'ordinary' and extraordinary residents and visitors. Visit and pick up a copy of a 1930s guide to Ceredigion and see how little has changed!
museum
The nearby Ceredigion Museum and Tourist Information Centre is a great place to start your exploration of Ceredigion. As well a great collection of traditional Welsh furniture, costume and artefacts illustrating rural domestic and business life, the Museum has a great collection of art and a lively programme of activities and events in including art and yoga classes, film screenings and music concerts, and an eclectic range of exhibitions.
A is for Aber, B for beaches
Aberystwyth, or simply 'Aber' as everyone who knows the town affectionately refers to it, is Ceredigion's largest town and a focus for a wide region.
Or should it be Aber-Rheidol, to reflect the position of its castle, at the mouth of the river Rheidol ?
Aberystwyth's first settlement - Pendinas hillfort - has a commanding position overlooking both.
In earlier times it was also known as Llanbadarn Gaerog - the fortified Llanbadarn, to distinguish it from nearby Llanbadarn Fawr, the location of an important medieval religious centre.
Find out more about Ceredigion's history and development through the ages , from iron age hillforts, including Pendinas:
Hillforts and mythical heroes
Aberystwyth's castle and its turbulent history:
Princes and their castles
Aberystwyth University has always been a place of innovation. It became one of the first institutions to admit female students, provided the first home for what became the National Library of Wales, and established pioneering courses in Agriculture, Geography, International Politics, Law and Welsh History.
Aberystwyth University continues to attract students from all over the world, and this, in turn, gives Aberystwyth town a truly cosmopolitan feel. It was to Aberystwyth University that HRH Prince Charles came to learn Welsh prior to his investiture as Prince of Wales at Caernarfon.
Aberystwyth and the Arts
From Augustus John to Richard Wilson and Kyffin Williams, the National Library of Wales has a vast collection of paintings, drawings, portraits and works other than books and manuscripts. It is also the archive for sound and film, so exhibitions at the Library interpreting Wales and its relationship with the world, draw on a rich inheritance.
The University's art collection includes old master drawings, sculpture and ceramics, with a programme of exhibitions and festivals of architecture printmaking and ceramics.
Performance art can be seen at the Arts Centre's theatre, Arad Goch centre in the town centre, and there are also, on occasions,open air performances.
And if all this sounds a just a little bit serious - Aberystwyth has its very own Comedy Festival (held in early October) as well as sports of all kinds, including an annual Cycle Festival.
Try a quirky Aberystwyth tradition
- kicking the bar! When you come to the end of the prom kick the white bar.
Enjoying the outdoors around Aberystwyth - walks and rides
Aberystwyth is on the Wales Coast Path, but there are plenty of local walks to enjoy, whether it be a stroll along the promenade or around town, a woodland walk in Parc Penglais nature park, an excursion to the summit of Constitution Hill, Pendinas Hillfort, riverside walks along the Rheidol and Ystwyth, or a hike up Pumlumon, Ceredigion's highest mountain, about 15 miles inland, in the Cambrian Mountains.
Aberystwyth Town walk
Discover some of Aberystwyth's history on a heritage walk around town. The route is about 4 km (2½ miles. Allow yourself at least an hour and extra time for browsing and taking photos!
Pendinas hillfort walk
Constitution Hill
Eating out
Relax and enjoy the view at a table on Aberystwyth promenade, or dangle your feet over the sea wall as you enjoy a bit of street food or an icecream as you watch the world go by or wait for one of Aberystwyth famous sunsets.
Aberystwyth has an excellent choice of cafes, restaurants and pubs lunch, snacks or picnic treats. Treat yourself to an evening meal in one (or more) of Aberystwyth's many independent restaurants - everything from excellent seafood and traditional fish and chips to Spanish tapas, Italian, Greek, Middle Eastern, South Asian and Chinese or explore the menus of our seafront hotels and bars for modern Welsh cuisine.
Only a short trip out of town extends the choice even further - cream teas in elegant country hotel surroundings, or good beer and food in a friendly country inn.
Shopping
Aberystwyth is a shopping centre for a wide area of Mid and West Wales, so has many of the major retail chain stores in or near the town centre. But the real pleasure of shopping in Aberystwyth is the many and varied independent shops and its Farmers Market, held every first and third Saturday of the month.
151 íbúar mæla með
Aberystwyth
20 minutes drive from the cottage
Aberystwyth, known as 'Aber', is a town with wider horizons than its rural coastline setting and relaxed lifestyle might suggest. As a university town, it's a melting pot of cultures and ideas: museums, archives and galleries reveal a depth of heritage to be discovered: - first, oldest,longest, best....
The Aberystwyth seafront and streets still retains much of their Georgian and Victorian character, with bow windows, colonnaded doorways and elegant proportions, whilst there are street names that suggest that the town is even older, which indeed it is.
To see where the earliest inhabitants of Aberystwyth lived, visit Pendinas hillfort, just to the south of today's harbour.
Great Darkgate Street is Aberystwyth's main commercial street; there's also a Northgate Street and Eastgate which mark the boundary of the town that grew around the 12th century castle.
Bath Street, Pier Street and Chalybeate Street hint at more leisurely pursuits of a holiday resort.
Authorised by an 1897 Act of Parliament and opened in 1902, the Vale of Rheidol railway's locomotives and carriages, some of which are still in use today on the line, were built by the Great Western Railway. A trip inland on the narrow gauge, steam railway is the best ways to see the spectacular valley landscape and waterfalls of the Rheidol valley between Aberystwyth and Devil's Bridge. There are special excursions too, with music, food and themed trips for Christmas and Halloween.
On the same day that the railway station opened, so did Aberystwyth's Royal Pier - the first in Wales. It was 800 feet long (approximately 248m) but it was damaged by severe storms the following year. The promenade and town developed, complete with new hotels, assembly rooms, concert hall, theatre, bandstand and saltwater bathing pools.
Promenade Panoramas
For a great view of the town, just as the Victorian and Edwardian health seekers did, climb Constitution Hill; or if you prefer, the Cliff Railway (opened in 1896, and until recently the longest ) provides a more leisurely alternative, as well as fantastic views. At the summit of Constitution Hill, the Victoria Camera Obscura, projects an intriguing bird’s eye view of the scenery.
Aberystwyth is justifiably famous for its glorious sunsets, spectacular winter storms and starling murmurations. From autumn through to early spring, the birds swirl in harmony across the evening sky before coming into roost under the pier each night.
Aberystwyth - Celtic capital of culture
Overlooking Aberystwyth town is the imposing building that houses the National Library of Wales. It may have over five million books on its shelves, but it's nothing like an ordinary library - you can't even take out a borrowed book. It is much, much more. It's the place to get an insight into Welsh culture through film, sound, art, maps and documents, and there are exhibitions, talks, concerts and behind the scenes guided tours. If you've got Welsh ancestry, you can trace your roots here too.
And they've got (one of) the best views in Aberystwyth!
Aberystwyth Arts Centre is a little bit further up Penglais Hill, on the University's main campus. The centre hosts world class performers and artists in its theatres, galleries and studios. The Centre includes exhibition spaces, a theatre, cinema and concert hall as well as artists' studios, book and gift shops. Despite lots going on, it a friendly, relaxed place, and another of those Aberystwyth spots that has fantastic views - the sunsets are famous!
concert
The Aberystwyth University School of Art, close to the centre of Aberystwyth town, has a collection of fine and decorative art from the 15th century to 21st century contemporary art, and has changing exhibitions from its collections as well as graduate shows.
Aberystwyth - gateway to Ceredigion heritage
Ceredigion has a rich cultural and folkloric heritage. The Ceredigion Archives at Aberystwyth town library has a wealth of material about the county's great mansions and their estates such as Hafod, Nanteos and Trawsgoed, the county's pubs and 'ordinary' and extraordinary residents and visitors. Visit and pick up a copy of a 1930s guide to Ceredigion and see how little has changed!
museum
The nearby Ceredigion Museum and Tourist Information Centre is a great place to start your exploration of Ceredigion. As well a great collection of traditional Welsh furniture, costume and artefacts illustrating rural domestic and business life, the Museum has a great collection of art and a lively programme of activities and events in including art and yoga classes, film screenings and music concerts, and an eclectic range of exhibitions.
A is for Aber, B for beaches
Aberystwyth, or simply 'Aber' as everyone who knows the town affectionately refers to it, is Ceredigion's largest town and a focus for a wide region.
Or should it be Aber-Rheidol, to reflect the position of its castle, at the mouth of the river Rheidol ?
Aberystwyth's first settlement - Pendinas hillfort - has a commanding position overlooking both.
In earlier times it was also known as Llanbadarn Gaerog - the fortified Llanbadarn, to distinguish it from nearby Llanbadarn Fawr, the location of an important medieval religious centre.
Find out more about Ceredigion's history and development through the ages , from iron age hillforts, including Pendinas:
Hillforts and mythical heroes
Aberystwyth's castle and its turbulent history:
Princes and their castles
Aberystwyth University has always been a place of innovation. It became one of the first institutions to admit female students, provided the first home for what became the National Library of Wales, and established pioneering courses in Agriculture, Geography, International Politics, Law and Welsh History.
Aberystwyth University continues to attract students from all over the world, and this, in turn, gives Aberystwyth town a truly cosmopolitan feel. It was to Aberystwyth University that HRH Prince Charles came to learn Welsh prior to his investiture as Prince of Wales at Caernarfon.
Aberystwyth and the Arts
From Augustus John to Richard Wilson and Kyffin Williams, the National Library of Wales has a vast collection of paintings, drawings, portraits and works other than books and manuscripts. It is also the archive for sound and film, so exhibitions at the Library interpreting Wales and its relationship with the world, draw on a rich inheritance.
The University's art collection includes old master drawings, sculpture and ceramics, with a programme of exhibitions and festivals of architecture printmaking and ceramics.
Performance art can be seen at the Arts Centre's theatre, Arad Goch centre in the town centre, and there are also, on occasions,open air performances.
And if all this sounds a just a little bit serious - Aberystwyth has its very own Comedy Festival (held in early October) as well as sports of all kinds, including an annual Cycle Festival.
Try a quirky Aberystwyth tradition
- kicking the bar! When you come to the end of the prom kick the white bar.
Enjoying the outdoors around Aberystwyth - walks and rides
Aberystwyth is on the Wales Coast Path, but there are plenty of local walks to enjoy, whether it be a stroll along the promenade or around town, a woodland walk in Parc Penglais nature park, an excursion to the summit of Constitution Hill, Pendinas Hillfort, riverside walks along the Rheidol and Ystwyth, or a hike up Pumlumon, Ceredigion's highest mountain, about 15 miles inland, in the Cambrian Mountains.
Aberystwyth Town walk
Discover some of Aberystwyth's history on a heritage walk around town. The route is about 4 km (2½ miles. Allow yourself at least an hour and extra time for browsing and taking photos!
Pendinas hillfort walk
Constitution Hill
Eating out
Relax and enjoy the view at a table on Aberystwyth promenade, or dangle your feet over the sea wall as you enjoy a bit of street food or an icecream as you watch the world go by or wait for one of Aberystwyth famous sunsets.
Aberystwyth has an excellent choice of cafes, restaurants and pubs lunch, snacks or picnic treats. Treat yourself to an evening meal in one (or more) of Aberystwyth's many independent restaurants - everything from excellent seafood and traditional fish and chips to Spanish tapas, Italian, Greek, Middle Eastern, South Asian and Chinese or explore the menus of our seafront hotels and bars for modern Welsh cuisine.
Only a short trip out of town extends the choice even further - cream teas in elegant country hotel surroundings, or good beer and food in a friendly country inn.
Shopping
Aberystwyth is a shopping centre for a wide area of Mid and West Wales, so has many of the major retail chain stores in or near the town centre. But the real pleasure of shopping in Aberystwyth is the many and varied independent shops and its Farmers Market, held every first and third Saturday of the month.
Sightseeing
15 min drive from the cottage:-
The small 18th century Welsh gentry estate is set in beautiful Dyffryn Aeron on the outskirts of Aberaeron.
The estate survived virtually unaltered into the 20th century and was bequeathed to the National Trust in 1989.
The villa was designed and built by John Nash in 1794-96 he also build the Royal Pavilion, Brighton, and Buckingham Palace.
Today Llanerchaeron is a working farm with two restored walled gardens which produce fruit and vegetables sold in the shop.
There are extensive walks around the estate and parkland as well as daily activities throughout the school holidays.
https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/llanerchaeron
36 íbúar mæla með
Llanerchaeron
15 min drive from the cottage:-
The small 18th century Welsh gentry estate is set in beautiful Dyffryn Aeron on the outskirts of Aberaeron.
The estate survived virtually unaltered into the 20th century and was bequeathed to the National Trust in 1989.
The villa was designed and built by John Nash in 1794-96 he also build the Royal Pavilion, Brighton, and Buckingham Palace.
Today Llanerchaeron is a working farm with two restored walled gardens which produce fruit and vegetables sold in the shop.
There are extensive walks around the estate and parkland as well as daily activities throughout the school holidays.
https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/llanerchaeron
20 minutes drive from the cottage.
All aboard the Vale of Rheidol by narrow gauge steam train. An unforgettable journey from Aberystwyth to Devil's Bridge, through the beautiful Rheidol Valley and sit back, relax on a nostalgic journey through the spectacular Mid Wales countryside.
Hop aboard at Aberystwyth and watch the scenery passing by your window. You will soon see the countryside change travelling through wide open fields, ancient woodland and rugged mountain scenery as the line twists and turns, clinging to the hillside to reach Devil's Bridge - home of the famous Mynach Falls and Devil's Punchbowl.
Look out for birds of prey such as red kites and buzzards soaring high above the valley floor and listen to the sound of the narrow gauge steam engine working hard on the climb into the hills.
Opened in 1902, the railway is a masterpiece of engineering and has been delighting passengers young and old for generations. Although the line no longer carries lead ore from the mines it has been carrying holidaymakers to the beauty spot of Devil's Bridge for over a hundred years!
The railway is a registered charity, dedicated to preserving the heritage railway for future generations to enjoy. The historic coal fired steam locomotives and vintage carriages were built by the Great Western Railway in the 1920s and 30s and are now fully restored.
CHARTER A TRAIN
Yes you really can hire a whole train! You can charter your own private excursion along the scenic Rheidol Valley on board the Vale of Rheidol Railway
SHOP & CAFE
The Railway Shop is located at Aberystwyth Station and sells a range of railway books, gifts and souvenirs including the popular Thomas the Tank Engine ranges as well as hot and cold drinks, snacks and ice creams and the online shop is also available and stocks a wide range of books with more titles and products being added all the time.
The 'Two Hoots Cafe' is located at the Devil's Bridge Station and is open for light refreshments when the train is running.
ABERYSTWYTH STATION
"Wales to the World" - All change at Aberystwyth Station with the building of a new station and multifunction display facility at our Aberystwyth station. The £1.6 million project started in late 2018 and will finish at the end of 2020; see https://www.rheidolrailway.co.uk/project.htm for all the details.
The 12 mile journey takes 1 hour in each direction. See timetables for departure times.
The railway offers advance bookings through its website, but there is also the option to purchase tickets from the Booking Office on the day of travel. Passengers may upgrade to the the First Class Observation Saloon for a small charge.
Dogs are very welcome on the railway and can travel in all Third Class carriages. A dog rover ticket costs £3.00.
The railway can carry bicycles although owing to space limitations on certain popular trains, please contact us in advance so we can reserve space.
Rail Route: Aberystwyth - Devil's Bridge.
www.rheidolrailway.co.uk
46 íbúar mæla með
Rheidol dalur
Park Avenue20 minutes drive from the cottage.
All aboard the Vale of Rheidol by narrow gauge steam train. An unforgettable journey from Aberystwyth to Devil's Bridge, through the beautiful Rheidol Valley and sit back, relax on a nostalgic journey through the spectacular Mid Wales countryside.
Hop aboard at Aberystwyth and watch the scenery passing by your window. You will soon see the countryside change travelling through wide open fields, ancient woodland and rugged mountain scenery as the line twists and turns, clinging to the hillside to reach Devil's Bridge - home of the famous Mynach Falls and Devil's Punchbowl.
Look out for birds of prey such as red kites and buzzards soaring high above the valley floor and listen to the sound of the narrow gauge steam engine working hard on the climb into the hills.
Opened in 1902, the railway is a masterpiece of engineering and has been delighting passengers young and old for generations. Although the line no longer carries lead ore from the mines it has been carrying holidaymakers to the beauty spot of Devil's Bridge for over a hundred years!
The railway is a registered charity, dedicated to preserving the heritage railway for future generations to enjoy. The historic coal fired steam locomotives and vintage carriages were built by the Great Western Railway in the 1920s and 30s and are now fully restored.
CHARTER A TRAIN
Yes you really can hire a whole train! You can charter your own private excursion along the scenic Rheidol Valley on board the Vale of Rheidol Railway
SHOP & CAFE
The Railway Shop is located at Aberystwyth Station and sells a range of railway books, gifts and souvenirs including the popular Thomas the Tank Engine ranges as well as hot and cold drinks, snacks and ice creams and the online shop is also available and stocks a wide range of books with more titles and products being added all the time.
The 'Two Hoots Cafe' is located at the Devil's Bridge Station and is open for light refreshments when the train is running.
ABERYSTWYTH STATION
"Wales to the World" - All change at Aberystwyth Station with the building of a new station and multifunction display facility at our Aberystwyth station. The £1.6 million project started in late 2018 and will finish at the end of 2020; see https://www.rheidolrailway.co.uk/project.htm for all the details.
The 12 mile journey takes 1 hour in each direction. See timetables for departure times.
The railway offers advance bookings through its website, but there is also the option to purchase tickets from the Booking Office on the day of travel. Passengers may upgrade to the the First Class Observation Saloon for a small charge.
Dogs are very welcome on the railway and can travel in all Third Class carriages. A dog rover ticket costs £3.00.
The railway can carry bicycles although owing to space limitations on certain popular trains, please contact us in advance so we can reserve space.
Rail Route: Aberystwyth - Devil's Bridge.
www.rheidolrailway.co.uk
7 minutes drive from the cottage.
Fantasy Farm Park opened to the public in 1998, and since then tens of thousands of visitors have delighted at not only the farm experience but the fun packed day in such a scenic setting.
Outdoor : *Nature walk & Picnic Area *Bumper Boats & Pedal Boats *Tractor & Trailer Rides *Roller Races & Model Farm - Pedal Tractors & Trailers *Wooden Adventure Play Area & Animals *Excavator Sand Pit & Sand Pit *Go Carts & Crazy Golf
Indoor : *Farmers Barn & Animals *Pirate Theme Soft Play Area
Demonstrations are featured daily. We have an indoor sand area and Ball pool, so that younger members of the group won't get bored even in inclement weather. Our educational section can provide a full set of support material and Activity sheets to use during your visit or for follow up work. So that we can be sure to be ready for you, its is essential that group visits are booked in advance.
Opening times: Open from 3rd August 2020 - bookings only. Fantasyfarmpark.co.uk
8 íbúar mæla með
Fantasy Farm Park
B43377 minutes drive from the cottage.
Fantasy Farm Park opened to the public in 1998, and since then tens of thousands of visitors have delighted at not only the farm experience but the fun packed day in such a scenic setting.
Outdoor : *Nature walk & Picnic Area *Bumper Boats & Pedal Boats *Tractor & Trailer Rides *Roller Races & Model Farm - Pedal Tractors & Trailers *Wooden Adventure Play Area & Animals *Excavator Sand Pit & Sand Pit *Go Carts & Crazy Golf
Indoor : *Farmers Barn & Animals *Pirate Theme Soft Play Area
Demonstrations are featured daily. We have an indoor sand area and Ball pool, so that younger members of the group won't get bored even in inclement weather. Our educational section can provide a full set of support material and Activity sheets to use during your visit or for follow up work. So that we can be sure to be ready for you, its is essential that group visits are booked in advance.
Opening times: Open from 3rd August 2020 - bookings only. Fantasyfarmpark.co.uk
https://www.aboutllanon.co.
https://www.ceredigion.gov.uk/resident/coast-countryside/exploring-ceredigion/walks-and-rides/
Llanon Ceredigion Wales : Tourist Information
Llanon (Llan-non) is a village stooped in history with a shingle beach located on the coast of Cardigan Bay, 11 miles south of Aberystwyth and 5 miles north of Aberaeron on the main A487 coast road.
The village is named after the church of St. Non – the mother of St David, patron saint of Wales, who was born about 500 AD and brought up in the village.
The history of the village dates back to a charter of around 1215 that shows the Lord Rhys ap Grufudd gave the land to the Bishop of St David’s. The land subsequently passed to the Cistercian monks of Strata Florida and the shoreline still features their mediaeval fish traps near Llanon.
The village was at its height in the 18th and 19th centuries as a key area for farming and shipbuilding. As a shipbuilding village it employed 130 men in 1861 out of a population of 1300. It was during this time that much of the development in the village took place when new churches, a school, shops, pubs, a brewery and bakery was built.
Today Llanon attracts many tourists visiting Ceredigion, including walkers of the Ceredigion Coastal Path, followers of the Dylan Thomas Trail and caravaneers. It holds an annual carnival and offers local amenities including two local pubs Central Hotel, White Swan Inn, Llanon Premier Stores, WB Evans Butchers.
Places Of Interest
The Church Of St Bride, Llansantffraed
The Church Of St Bride is a parish church of Norman origin. During the medieval period.
Cottage Museum & Y Neuadd
Just off Bridge Street in Hoel Non is a Tudor Ruin called a Y Neuadd (hall). This is believed to date back to the 14th century and would have been home to a wealthy family. It first appears in historical records in 1645 and was last occupied in the 1880’s. It was excavated in 2013 and is now viewable any time.
Adjoining the ruin is one of the last surviving cottages in west Wales. It is a 2 roomed cottage dating back to the 18th century; the thatched roof is now covered by corrugated iron. It is open to view from 2.00pm – 4.00pm Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday during August and August Bank Holiday Monday.
Find out more about Llanon Cottage
The White Swan Inn
The White Swan Inn Llanon in Stryd-yr-Ysgol, off Bridge Street, was formally known as the Commercial and was first listed in 1861 with inn keeper as Jane Thomas. This family friendly pub has recently been renovated and offers good food, sunday lunches and range of quality ales.
The White Swan
The Central Hotel
The Central Hotel on Bridge Street opened around 1906 and was built on the original site of the Sun Inn, a thatched cottage. The first licensee of the Sun Inn was listed as Jenkin Davies in 1836. The Dylan Thomas Trail starts here and it is where Thomas drank with his friend Aberaeron vet Tommy Herbert. The Central has recently been renovated and has reopened.
Llanon Beach
Llanon Beach car park is located at the end of Heol Y Mor adjacent to the Plas Morfa Hotel and the Afon Cledan river. The beach can also be accessed from a number steps that come down from the village near the cricket field. It is a dog friendly beach mainly shingle but with patches of sand and when the ride is out there are plenty of rock pools to investigate. This is an ideal start point for the Ceredigion Coastal Path heading south towards Aberaeron and Newquay. As you head out towards Aberath, when the tide is out, you can see the remains of ancient fishing pools that were created by the monks of Strata Florida Abbey.
Ceredigion Coastal Path
Llanon is a virtual midpoint of the Ceredigion Coastal Path walk that runs from Ynys Las to Cardigan. It is a beautiful walk covering all the towns and villages on its route and may be walked in easy sections. From Llanon the walk into Aberaeron has some lovely views over the sea, and going to Llanrhystud next village along you will encounter the Lime Kilns.
Llan-non
https://www.aboutllanon.co.
https://www.ceredigion.gov.uk/resident/coast-countryside/exploring-ceredigion/walks-and-rides/
Llanon Ceredigion Wales : Tourist Information
Llanon (Llan-non) is a village stooped in history with a shingle beach located on the coast of Cardigan Bay, 11 miles south of Aberystwyth and 5 miles north of Aberaeron on the main A487 coast road.
The village is named after the church of St. Non – the mother of St David, patron saint of Wales, who was born about 500 AD and brought up in the village.
The history of the village dates back to a charter of around 1215 that shows the Lord Rhys ap Grufudd gave the land to the Bishop of St David’s. The land subsequently passed to the Cistercian monks of Strata Florida and the shoreline still features their mediaeval fish traps near Llanon.
The village was at its height in the 18th and 19th centuries as a key area for farming and shipbuilding. As a shipbuilding village it employed 130 men in 1861 out of a population of 1300. It was during this time that much of the development in the village took place when new churches, a school, shops, pubs, a brewery and bakery was built.
Today Llanon attracts many tourists visiting Ceredigion, including walkers of the Ceredigion Coastal Path, followers of the Dylan Thomas Trail and caravaneers. It holds an annual carnival and offers local amenities including two local pubs Central Hotel, White Swan Inn, Llanon Premier Stores, WB Evans Butchers.
Places Of Interest
The Church Of St Bride, Llansantffraed
The Church Of St Bride is a parish church of Norman origin. During the medieval period.
Cottage Museum & Y Neuadd
Just off Bridge Street in Hoel Non is a Tudor Ruin called a Y Neuadd (hall). This is believed to date back to the 14th century and would have been home to a wealthy family. It first appears in historical records in 1645 and was last occupied in the 1880’s. It was excavated in 2013 and is now viewable any time.
Adjoining the ruin is one of the last surviving cottages in west Wales. It is a 2 roomed cottage dating back to the 18th century; the thatched roof is now covered by corrugated iron. It is open to view from 2.00pm – 4.00pm Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday during August and August Bank Holiday Monday.
Find out more about Llanon Cottage
The White Swan Inn
The White Swan Inn Llanon in Stryd-yr-Ysgol, off Bridge Street, was formally known as the Commercial and was first listed in 1861 with inn keeper as Jane Thomas. This family friendly pub has recently been renovated and offers good food, sunday lunches and range of quality ales.
The White Swan
The Central Hotel
The Central Hotel on Bridge Street opened around 1906 and was built on the original site of the Sun Inn, a thatched cottage. The first licensee of the Sun Inn was listed as Jenkin Davies in 1836. The Dylan Thomas Trail starts here and it is where Thomas drank with his friend Aberaeron vet Tommy Herbert. The Central has recently been renovated and has reopened.
Llanon Beach
Llanon Beach car park is located at the end of Heol Y Mor adjacent to the Plas Morfa Hotel and the Afon Cledan river. The beach can also be accessed from a number steps that come down from the village near the cricket field. It is a dog friendly beach mainly shingle but with patches of sand and when the ride is out there are plenty of rock pools to investigate. This is an ideal start point for the Ceredigion Coastal Path heading south towards Aberaeron and Newquay. As you head out towards Aberath, when the tide is out, you can see the remains of ancient fishing pools that were created by the monks of Strata Florida Abbey.
Ceredigion Coastal Path
Llanon is a virtual midpoint of the Ceredigion Coastal Path walk that runs from Ynys Las to Cardigan. It is a beautiful walk covering all the towns and villages on its route and may be walked in easy sections. From Llanon the walk into Aberaeron has some lovely views over the sea, and going to Llanrhystud next village along you will encounter the Lime Kilns.