Aberystwyth
Aberystwyth City Guide
Introduction
Aberystwyth is a small university town on the west coast of Wales, situated at the mouths of the Ystywth and Rheidol Rivers. It’s the main holiday resort on the 70-mile stretch of Cardigan Bay in the county of Ceredigion. The town is blessed with a mild climate all year round, thanks to its sheltered position. In fact it’s often claimed to be the sunniest place in Britain. Due to its superb location in the heart of mid Wales, Aberystwyth also makes a good central point for exploring the whole country.
Attractions
Royal Pier
This Victorian structure was the first pleasure pier to be built in Wales. With a pizzeria, ice cream parlour, amusement arcade, restaurants and a nightclub, there’s plenty to keep everyone entertained.
Aberystwyth Castle
Commissioned by King Edward I in 1277, Aberystwyth Castle was once a large and imposing fortress built to keep a tight grip over the country and curb Welsh nationalism. Today it stands forlorn on the exposed clifftop, battered and pounded by the sharp winds and rain. Nevertheless, the ruined remains still give a good impression of how the castle looked in its heyday.
Constitution Hill
At the opposite side of Aberystwyth, Constitution Hill rises from the sea and dominates the northern skyline of the town. At 130 metres above sea level, the summit gives wonderful views of the town and surrounding countryside and the distant mountains can be seen on a clear, sunny day. The Y Consti restaurant and camera obscura at the top provide welcome respite for weary hikers who’ve bravely made the climb on foot. For those who’re not inclined to walk all the way up, there’s also an electric clifftop railway.
Aberystwyth Arts Centre
One of the most prominent cultural centres in the whole of Wales, Aberystwyth has a good range of arts facilities, the most impressive of which is the Aberystwyth Arts Centre. It’s a superb multi-purpose venue with a concert hall, theatres, studios and workshops, exhibition spaces, craft shops, cafes and bars. Run by the University of Wales Aberystwyth and attracting over 650,000 visitors a year, it’s an award-winning cultural centre renowned for excellence in the arts. The galleries have a constantly changing programme of exhibitions and there are numerous performances of drama, dance, modern and classical music and comedy throughout the year.
National Library of Wales
Wales’ impressive national collection of literature, manuscripts and archives is housed in the National Library on Penglais Hill overlooking Aberystwyth. It also has an excellent programme of cultural lectures and exhibitions.
Ceredigion Museum
Dedicated to local history, the Ceredigion Museum focuses in particular on the traditional industries in the area such as lead mining, fishing and farming.
CRAFT – Ceredigion Recycling and Furniture Team
This innovative recycling scheme is run by a not-for-profit organisation whose aims are to reduce waste, educate people on the environment and provide low-cost goods to the local community. For sale in the workshop, located in Old Police Yard on Queens Road, are various recycled arts, crafts and handy household items.
Magic of Life Butterfly House
Just outside Aberystwyth at Cwm Rheidol, this beautifully colourful tropical greenhouse is full of exotic plants and butterflies. Frequent guided tours are given in both English and Welsh by trained biologists.
Vale of Rheidol Railway
On this spectacular narrow-gauge line, a steam train puffs its way through the beautiful Rheidol valley from Aberystwyth to Devil’s Bridge. Trains stop for an hour before returning to town, but passengers wishing to explore more of the stunning countryside may catch a later train back. There are excellent walking trails to Jacob’s Ladder, the Devil’s Punchbowl and the Mynach Falls.
Ceredigion Coast Path
Ceredigion is an area that’s rich in natural beauty. Walkers and nature lovers will love the coastal path that stretches almost all the way along Cardigan Bay, which gives the opportunity to discover the remote beaches, coves and headlands of the coast as well as the seabirds, animals and wild flowers that populate the area.
Eating Out
Twice a month on a Saturday at North Parade, Aberystwyth has a farmer’s market selling agricultural produce from the local region. The food’s guaranteed to be fresh and seasonal and it’s great for stocking up for a picnic or packed lunch.
Lord Beeching’s on Alexandra Road is an excellent gastro-pub offering an extensive range of good quality wines and beers as well as fresh, home-cooked bar meals. There’s a lovely beer garden for outdoor eating and drinking in the summer.
For a real seaside experience, try the Pier Pavillion Wine Bar and Brasserie on Royal Pier. With wonderful views of the coast and promenade, it’s a great place to spend the evening. There’s an extensive a la carte menu of bistro-style dishes and a good cocktail list.
Gannet’s Bistro on St James Square is a popular, long-established restaurant with a traditional menu of British dishes served in generous portions. The sticky toffee pudding is a real treat.
Vegetarians will love the Treehouse Café on Eastgate, which serves a good range of vegetarian specialities for lunch and snacks.
Nightlife
The student population of Aberystwyth injects a fresh and fun atmosphere into the town’s bars and clubs, especially during term time. The Ship and Castle on the High Street is always packed with students attracted by the extensive real ale selection, the great juke box and the regular live music sessions on Wednesday nights. Scholars on Queens Road is another favourite student haunt, with comfy sofas, darts board and a weekly quiz night. One of the coolest places to be seen in is The Orangery, a wine/cocktail bar on Market Street. It’s stylish and sophisticated with a laid-back atmosphere. There’s also a great selection of clubs to choose from, such as Club Yokos on Great Darkgate Street, favoured by a younger crowd for its lively beats, while the thumping Pier Pressure nightclub on the Royal Pier is for serious party-goers, with regular live music and themed party nights.
