The lively seaside town of Aberystwyth lies in the centre of Cardigan Bay in the county of Ceredigion in West Wales. Surrounded by some of Wales' most spectacular scenery including the Snowdonia National Park to the north and the Rheidol Valley to the east, Aberystwyth is a popular destination for holidays and weekend breaks in Wales.
History of Aberystwyth
Highlights of Aberystwyth’s rich history include its Iron Age hill fort, castle ruins, and University College.
Located to the south of the town on Pen Dinas Hill and enjoying unspoilt view across Cardigan Bay lie the remains of an Iron Age hill fort, believed to comprise two separate forts which were later combined to form a larger settlement. Also situated on Pen Dinas is a striking monument in the shape of an upturned cannon, erected in 1852 to commemorate the Duke of Wellington for his victory in the battle of Waterloo.
To the very west of the town situated alongside New Promenade lie the ruins of Aberystwyth Castle. Constructed in 1277 under the order of King Edward I, the castle was designed as a concentric fortress comprising rings of defensive walls. Today, visitors can walk among the scattered remains of the outer curtain wall and angle-towers whilst enjoying views out across Cardigan Bay.
Aberystwyth’s more recent heritage centres on its university, originally founded in 1872 as the first college of the University of Wales with just 26 students and a teaching staff of three. Today Aberystwyth University boasts a student population of over 13,000 students and ranks highly amongst the top UK universities for teaching and learning.
Attractions in Aberystwyth
Visitors to Aberystwyth can enjoy a wide range of attractions on offer in the town and surrounding area.
A stroll along the seafront promenade from Aberystwyth’s north beach takes you past the Royal Pier, the castle ruins, along south beach and down to the harbour where the rivers Yswyth and Rheidol join before entering the Irish Sea.
The Aberystwyth Cliff Railway situated at Constitution Hill to the north of the promenade offers the most impressive outlook over Aberystwyth and the surrounding countryside. On a clear day, panoramic views taking in the Preseli Hills in Pembrokeshire to the south, Cardigan Bay to the west, and Snowdonia in North Wales can be enjoyed from the summit. Also at the summit you will find a café and the famous Camera Obscura which captures 1000 square miles of landscape and seascape in great detail.
Located in the town centre and housed in the impressive Edwardian Coliseum Theatre on Terrace Road, Ceredigion Museum provides a host of exhibits recounting the history of Aberystwyth and Ceredigion dating back to prehistoric times.
For visitors with a love of the arts, Aberystwyth Arts Centre, located at the University’s Penglais Campus to the east of the town, offers an exciting programme of shows, films, exhibitions, arts and crafts. Also located in Aberystwyth is the National Library of Wales which, in addition to being a national legal deposit library for Wales, houses many of Wales’ great literary treasure such as the Black Book of Carmarthen.
Visitors to Aberystwyth can also experience the Vale of Rheidol Railway by catching a narrow gauge steam train from Aberystwyth which travels 11 ľ miles along the beautiful Rheidol valley to Devil’s Bridge. Here lie the spectacular Devil’s Bridge Falls where the river Mynach falls 300 feet down a wooded gorge to the river Rheidol below.
Local Amenities
Aberystwyth’s town centre offers an interesting range of independent shops and familiar high street stores for visitors to browse, as well as a wide selection of cafés, bars and restaurants ranging from Italian to Japanese cuisine.
Parking in Aberystwyth is available in several pay and display car parks located around the town on New Promenade, Boulevard Saint Brieuc, Maseyrafon, Coedlan-y-parc, and Bath Street.
