Steam&Slate
The seafront promenade at Aberystwyth looking out over Cardigan Bay

Aberystwyth

University town, seafront promenade and a cliff railway.

Photo: Antony Stanley from Gloucester, UK / CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Aberystwyth is the capital of the Cardigan Bay coast, a university and seaside town with a Victorian promenade, a ruined castle on the point and the National Library of Wales up on the hill. It is the liveliest town on this stretch of coast and its cultural anchor.

CountyCeredigion
Best seasonOutside the April–September dolphin season for value

Staying near Aberystwyth

The base with the most going on in Ceredigion — restaurants, culture and a proper seafront — and a hub for the wider coast and the Cambrian mountains inland.

What's here

The promenade and the "kicking the bar" ritual at its north end; the Cliff Railway up Constitution Hill; the National Library of Wales; and the Vale of Rheidol steam railway up to Devil's Bridge.

When to visit

Year-round as a town; summer for the beach and boat trips. Term time brings the student buzz, summer the holiday crowd.

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Common questions

Is Aberystwyth a good base for the Ceredigion coast?

Yes. As the largest town on Cardigan Bay, Aberystwyth has the widest choice of restaurants, culture and amenities on the Ceredigion coast, plus a seafront, castle and cliff railway, and good road and rail links north and south along the coast and inland.

What is the Vale of Rheidol Railway?

The Vale of Rheidol Railway is a narrow-gauge steam line running from Aberystwyth up into the hills to Devil's Bridge, where three bridges are stacked over a wooded gorge and waterfalls. The round trip is a popular full-day excursion from the town.

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