LAMPETER/LLANBEDR PONT STEFFAN
The market town of Lampeter, known in Welsh as Llanbedr Pont Steffan (St Peter’s by Stephen’s Bridge) is the third largest town in Ceredigion and lies on the confluence of the Creuddyn and Dulas rivers with the beautiful River Teifi. It was an important centre on the Welsh Drover’s Road used to take cattle, sheep and geese on foot to the markets in England, which gave rise to a number of inns along the way. Lampeter University campus, now a part of Trinity St David’s, is the third oldest in Britain after Oxford and Cambridge and in the 1850s became the home of Welsh Rugby after it was brought from Cambridge by Rowland Williams. Crafts and services including tanners, blacksmiths, carpenters, saddlers and bootmakers developed to serve the needs of the local rural area. There were several woollen mills, one of which produced the double-woven tapestry cloth destined to become famous in the Welsh Wool Blanket industry and about eight miles away in Llanybydder is the Jen Jones Welsh Quilts & Blankets Shop . Quilting is another craft that has a deep-rooted tradition in the area and for those interested in quilting and patchwork Calico Kate on the High Street is a must-visit renowned destination fabric and craft shop where you can spend hours browsing on three floors. Lampeter is also the centre of a network of country walks along footpaths, bridleways or quiet roads leading to lakes, river banks, abandoned hill forts, ancient woodland and standing stones.
The market town of Lampeter, known in Welsh as Llanbedr Pont Steffan (St Peter’s by Stephen’s Bridge) is the third largest town in Ceredigion and lies on the confluence of the Creuddyn and Dulas rivers with the beautiful River Teifi. It was an important centre on the Welsh Drover’s Road used to take cattle, sheep and geese on foot to the markets in England, which gave rise to a number of inns along the way. Lampeter University campus, now a part of Trinity St David’s, is the third oldest in Britain after Oxford and Cambridge and in the 1850s became the home of Welsh Rugby after it was brought from Cambridge by Rowland Williams. Crafts and services including tanners, blacksmiths, carpenters, saddlers and bootmakers developed to serve the needs of the local rural area. There were several woollen mills, one of which produced the double-woven tapestry cloth destined to become famous in the Welsh Wool Blanket industry and about eight miles away in Llanybydder is the Jen Jones Welsh Quilts & Blankets Shop . Quilting is another craft that has a deep-rooted tradition in the area and for those interested in quilting and patchwork Calico Kate on the High Street is a must-visit renowned destination fabric and craft shop where you can spend hours browsing on three floors. Lampeter is also the centre of a network of country walks along footpaths, bridleways or quiet roads leading to lakes, river banks, abandoned hill forts, ancient woodland and standing stones.
TEIFI POOLS/LLYN TEIFI
The River Teifi has its source in Llyn Teifi, one of several lakes known collectively as the Teifi Pools situated at 455m in the Cambrian Mountains towards the north of the county of Ceredigion. This remote area of Mid-Wales, with a very sparse population, is part of what is sometimes called the "Green Desert of Wales". The lakes are accessed along a mountain road which is quite challenging!
CWMYSTWYTH & THE ELAN VALLEY/CWM ELAN
The stunning Elan Valley with its reservoirs and 6 Dams is well worth a visit but the driving is not for the nervous or fainthearted! Always remember sheep have right of way! If you want to see it without the driving it might be an idea to let the professionals take the strain and book a guided tour in a 4WD with Cambrian Safaris.
To the north of the “Welsh Lake District” is a breathtaking road across the Cambrians - the Cymystwyth mountain road off the B4574; the beautiful valley from Cwmystwyth, the centre point of Wales, has reminders of its former importance as a lead mining area.
The stunning Elan Valley with its reservoirs and 6 Dams is well worth a visit but the driving is not for the nervous or fainthearted! Always remember sheep have right of way! If you want to see it without the driving it might be an idea to let the professionals take the strain and book a guided tour in a 4WD with Cambrian Safaris.
To the north of the “Welsh Lake District” is a breathtaking road across the Cambrians - the Cymystwyth mountain road off the B4574; the beautiful valley from Cwmystwyth, the centre point of Wales, has reminders of its former importance as a lead mining area.
The winding road lined with roaming hill sheep clings to the side of a steep gorge where the Ystwyth plunges down over 100m, arriving at the upper reaches of the Elan River then following it as it meanders along the valley floor to the Pont ar Elan and into Craig Goch Reservoir. If you follow the road on to Rhayader you can then take the B4518 to Elan Village and the Elan Valley Visitor Centre below Caban Coch Dam before looping back around the reservoirs to the Pont ar Elan. The clockwise route gives the best approach to the dams with spectacular photo opportunities. When we visited the dams were not overflowing as waterfalls but it gave the opportunity to admire the construction. If you take the road down over the Elan Bridge you can do the journey in the opposite direction turning off the main road before Rhayader to climb the mountain route back towards Cwmystwyth.
The tiny village of Nantgwyllt was lost in the creation of the reservoirs but the medieval church was replaced with a Victorian church built on higher ground overlooking the Garreg-Ddu Dam and Viaduct. The road across the viaduct takes you to the Claerwen Dam
Driving on around the lakes you come to the middle dam at Pen-y-Gareg and then back to Craig Goch.
The Elan Valley and the former Nant-y-Gro Dam played an important part in the testing of bombs for the Dambusters Raid of 1943.
The tiny village of Nantgwyllt was lost in the creation of the reservoirs but the medieval church was replaced with a Victorian church built on higher ground overlooking the Garreg-Ddu Dam and Viaduct. The road across the viaduct takes you to the Claerwen Dam
Driving on around the lakes you come to the middle dam at Pen-y-Gareg and then back to Craig Goch.
The Elan Valley and the former Nant-y-Gro Dam played an important part in the testing of bombs for the Dambusters Raid of 1943.
ABERAERON
Aberaeron is just 15 miles from Lampeter and is a picturesque little Harbour Town with Regency style terraces of pretty painted cottages. Recently voted the "Best Place in Wales" it was carefully designed and planned in the early 1800s and still retains its character.
NEW QUAY
New Quay is a popular seaside holiday destination well known for dolphin spotting boat trips, as well as its Blue Flag and Seaside Award winning beaches and watersports. There is a heritage centre and marine wildlife centre, as well as shops and restaurants. Nearby New Quay Honey Farm is the largest bee farm in Wales with a live bee exhibition and shop for honey, mead and bees wax.
New Quay is a popular seaside holiday destination well known for dolphin spotting boat trips, as well as its Blue Flag and Seaside Award winning beaches and watersports. There is a heritage centre and marine wildlife centre, as well as shops and restaurants. Nearby New Quay Honey Farm is the largest bee farm in Wales with a live bee exhibition and shop for honey, mead and bees wax.
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BWLCH NANT YR ARIAN - RED KITE FEEDING CENTRE Bwlch Nant Yr Arian Visitor Centre is a free attraction in the stunning Cambrian Mountains 9 miles east of Aberystwyth run jointly by National Resources Wales and the RSPB. There are many activities available but the highlight is the daily spectacle of the feeding of 150 or more Red Kites. The Red Kite is Wales’ National Bird of Prey and the ones at the centre come to feed from a radius of around 10 miles and can be seen gathering in the skies above well before feeding time. The YouTube video below was taken on our visit. DEVIL'S BRIDGE FALLS/RHAEADRAU PONTARFYNACH Devils' Bridge Falls is in the stunning Rheidol Gorge 12 miles from Aberystwyth and you can take the Nature Trail to view the Falls and the amazing Three Bridges. They were built on top of each other to adapt from pedestrians to horse-drawn vehicles and early cars and then to heavier modern traffic. You can take the car or step back in time with a trip through spectacular scenery on the Vale of Rheidol Steam Railway from Aberystwyth. For an even better look at the area you can combine the train journey with a luxury 4x4 tour of beauty spots in a Land Rover Discovery with Cambrian Safaris. They offer a variety of customised tours of the beautiful Cambrian Mountains on and off-road. |
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ABERYSTWYTH
Aberystwyth at the northern end of Cardigan Bay is the principal holiday resort of the west coast of Wales and home to a thriving University and the imposing National Library of Wales perched high on a hilltop overlooking the town. The seafront has an attractive mix of Victorian and Edwardian houses and there is a Castle, busy harbour, promenade and electric Cliff Railway, the longest in Britain, that runs up Constitution Hill. It is at one end of the Vale of Rheidol Steam Railway that runs to Devil’s Bridge.
Aberystwyth at the northern end of Cardigan Bay is the principal holiday resort of the west coast of Wales and home to a thriving University and the imposing National Library of Wales perched high on a hilltop overlooking the town. The seafront has an attractive mix of Victorian and Edwardian houses and there is a Castle, busy harbour, promenade and electric Cliff Railway, the longest in Britain, that runs up Constitution Hill. It is at one end of the Vale of Rheidol Steam Railway that runs to Devil’s Bridge.
DYFI NATIONAL NATURE RESERVE
Further up the coast north of Aberystwyth is The Dyfi National Nature Reserve. The beautiful estuary where the River Dyfi meets the waters of Cardigan Bay has a stunning backdrop of the Cambrian Mountains and Snowdonia and the reserve has three main areas including the superb dunes and vast beach at Ynyslas. On the other side of the river is the pretty coastal village and harbour resort of Aberdyfi (Aberdovey) with its painted seafront houses.
Further up the coast north of Aberystwyth is The Dyfi National Nature Reserve. The beautiful estuary where the River Dyfi meets the waters of Cardigan Bay has a stunning backdrop of the Cambrian Mountains and Snowdonia and the reserve has three main areas including the superb dunes and vast beach at Ynyslas. On the other side of the river is the pretty coastal village and harbour resort of Aberdyfi (Aberdovey) with its painted seafront houses.
CENARTH AND CENARTH FALLS
Cenarth is a pretty little riverside village on the River Teifi between Cardigan and Newcastle Emlyn and has a foot in both Carmarthenshire and Ceredigion. The river, famous for its salmon, has carved a series of waterfalls and Salmon Leap, which the fish have to jump in order to reach their spawning grounds upstream. The village boasts a 17th Century Flour Mill, the National Coracle Centre, The White Hart, a 16th Century Inn, St Llawddog’s Church and Holy Well, pretty cottages, tea rooms and the Salmon Leap Gift Shop and Café next to the car park adjacent to the focal point of the village, the unusual 18th Century Bridge which carries the A484 across the Teifi. The clever structure was built in 1787 and designed with circular holes which maintain the strength while reducing the weight of the span on the footings and allowing flood water through. Judging by the size of some of the traffic crossing it the design works and one local told me that in the war the tank transporters used to cross it regularly. There is a pretty nature trail through the gorge which takes about an hour to walk.
CARDIGAN/ABERTEIFI
Cardigan (in Welsh: Aberteifi - mouth of the Teifi) is a historic market town with a beautifully renovated Castle at a strategic point on the river Teifi. It has galleries and markets, a lively shopping centre with independent shops, cafes, pubs and restaurants, a host of colourful events, and a spectacular coastline nearby to explore. This is where the Teifi finishes its journey to the sea at Cardigan Bay.
MWNT
Mwnt beach is an award-winning sheltered sandy cove, owned by the National Trust and an ideal place to spot bottlenose dolphins, basking sharks and porpoises. . This popular beach is off the beaten track but can still get very busy in the height of summer. The single track road is not for the faint-hearted! The tiny white church is thought to be 14th century and served as a sailors' chapel of ease and refuge for medieval pilgrims.
Mwnt beach is an award-winning sheltered sandy cove, owned by the National Trust and an ideal place to spot bottlenose dolphins, basking sharks and porpoises. . This popular beach is off the beaten track but can still get very busy in the height of summer. The single track road is not for the faint-hearted! The tiny white church is thought to be 14th century and served as a sailors' chapel of ease and refuge for medieval pilgrims.
LLANGRANNOG
LLangrannog Beach is beautiful and has amazing rock formations and cliffs. There are many excellent cafes and pubs overlooking the sea and a walk across the beach and around the corner to the second beach (only possible at low tide) gives a stunning view of the coastline.
LLangrannog Beach is beautiful and has amazing rock formations and cliffs. There are many excellent cafes and pubs overlooking the sea and a walk across the beach and around the corner to the second beach (only possible at low tide) gives a stunning view of the coastline.
ABERPORTH
Aberporth Beach is in two sections, one Blue Flag, the other dog friendly and at low tide there are rock pools to explore. There are cafes and pubs and parking above the beach and in the village.
Aberporth Beach is in two sections, one Blue Flag, the other dog friendly and at low tide there are rock pools to explore. There are cafes and pubs and parking above the beach and in the village.
BRECON/ABERHONDDU & TALYBONT-ON-USK
Just an hour's drive away at the top of the Brecon Beacons National Park is the pretty market town of Brecon, home to the Regimental Museum of the Royal Welsh. Situated on the confluence of the River Honddu and the River Usk it is also the journey's end on the Monmouthshire & Brecon Canal with the pretty Theatre Basin offering cafes and boat trips.
Just an hour's drive away at the top of the Brecon Beacons National Park is the pretty market town of Brecon, home to the Regimental Museum of the Royal Welsh. Situated on the confluence of the River Honddu and the River Usk it is also the journey's end on the Monmouthshire & Brecon Canal with the pretty Theatre Basin offering cafes and boat trips.
Seven miles on downstream on the river and canal is the pretty village of Talybont-on-Usk where the road to Talybont Reservoir crosses a tranquil section of the canal via a Lift Bridge operated by boat owners.
