Introduction
Aberystwyth punches considerably above what a mid-Wales university town of its size should be able to manage. It has a properly dramatic setting, the town hugs Cardigan Bay, with Constitution Hill rising steeply at one end of the promenade and the ruined castle at the other. The Cliff Railway, the oldest electric cliff railway in Britain, is a genuine landmark rather than just a tourist attraction.
The university keeps the town young and the food and drink scene current. Eastgate Street has a cluster of bars and restaurants that would hold their own in a much larger city. It's also one of the better starting points for Ceredigion coastal walks and the extraordinary Hafod Estate inland.
It gets dismissed as remote, but the train from Birmingham runs directly, the promenade is wide and blustery and beautiful, and there's nowhere quite like it in Wales.
Getting There
Aberystwyth sits at the terminus of two scenic rail routes, the Cambrian Main Line from Birmingham (around three hours) and the Heart of Wales Line from Swansea. The Cambrian line also connects to Shrewsbury. By car it's around two hours from Cardiff or Shrewsbury via the A44 or A487. The journey is part of the experience.
Areas to Know
- Marine Terrace (Promenade). The main coastal strip; cafés, sea air, the ruined castle
- Constitution Hill. Take the Cliff Railway up; the camera obscura and views from the top
- Eastgate Street. The bar and restaurant hub; Baravin, independent shops
- Pier Street. Ultracomida and the town's more characterful shopping
- North Beach. Below Constitution Hill; quieter and rockier than the main beach
