Things to see and do Ceredigion

Magnificent marine reserve, a refuge for thousands of wading. One of the largest bogs in Britain. Possibility to walk in the dunes and bathe in the estuary. Three paths with information panels are offered. During the summer, volunteers organize different guided walks.

Opened in 1896 to take tourists to the Luna Park amusement park, which was located at the top of the hill, the funicular now leads to a giant optical instrument, the camera obscura, accessible to the public, to the Y Consti restaurant and above all to a magnificent panorama. This 237-metre funicular line is one of the longest in the British Isles. Clearly an must if you are visiting Aberystwyth or nearby! Frequent departures but remember to check the dates and schedules carefully, especially in winter.

Owned by the National Trust, Mwnt is often considered one of the ten most beautiful hidden beaches in Europe. Even off the beaten track, this family-friendly beach can be packed with visitors in summer. It's also a destination where you can take a cliff walk along the signposted Foel y Mwnt path, overlooking the sheltered sandy cove, and visit a ^13th-century church. Out of season, when there's no one around, the beach is extremely pleasant and offers a very relaxing atmosphere in which to contemplate the ocean.

Railway inaugurated in 1902. Three superposed bridges overlook a narrow and deep gorge, where a waterfall flows. Legend has it that the villagers, unable to build the bridge, made a pact with the devil: he agreed to solve the problem in exchange for the first soul to cross the bridge. The villagers managed to get away with this haggling: they threw bread on the deck to sacrifice the innocent soul of a dog... The journey takes place on board vintage wagons pulled by a steam locomotive.

In this centre, among other things, one is informed about the evolution of the country's marine fauna. You can even take a boat ride with them and participate in the animal counts. We thus learn to recognize the different dolphins according to their dorsal fin! It's really exciting. And if you want to support the centre for the preservation of these animals, you can adopt a dolphin for £30. An original gift idea that children in particular love!

Cilgerran is one of the country's many wildlife preservation centres. Discover a fabulous diversity of wildlife in the Teifi Marshes nature reserve, or in the building with a 360 degree panoramic view, to see a fauna (birds, dragonflies...) and an abundance of flora. Four theme trails are proposed. It is a paradise for birdwatchers, with a beautiful variety of birds being visible. The plus: possibility to rent a cottage to spend the night in the middle of this peaceful place!

From the impressive 13th century castle built by William Marshal, Earl of Pembroke, there are only two massive round towers left overlooking a gorge on the Teifi River. In 1215, the castle had been taken by Llywelyn the Great. Its superb location inspired many artists, including Turner in 1799. Cilgerran Castle offers very beautiful views when you climb up the tower, very easily accessible. Beautiful walks lead to the river from the castle. In summer, some activities are offered for children.

Dolphins, porpoises, Atlantic grey seals, little penguins, guillemots... Since New Quay's main attraction is its marine life, you might as well go to sea! Once on board the boat, from the youngest to the oldest, we quickly get caught up in the game of looking for the presence of dolphins or others. We are welcomed by enthusiasts and we take this opportunity to learn more about marine wildlife and current issues: pollution and global warming that threaten the balance of these animals. Book in advance, especially in summer.

Gold was found here by the Romans as early as the 6th century BC, and the mine remained in operation until the 19th century! A visitor centre, created by the National Trust, provides information on the techniques used by the Romans to extract the precious mineral from the rock and on the particular geology of the site, which has been declared of scientific interest. Accompanied by a guide, you can then discover the interior of the mines in the galleries dug by hand! This site is also magnificently located: there are splendid views over the Cothi valley.

Aberystwyth, Wales' first university city, has a recognised university, which opened in 1872 in a former seaside hotel. It was the first British university to accept women, and also the first in the world to open a faculty dedicated to international politics. It ranks fourth in the United Kingdom for the quality of its teaching. It is divided into several buildings and 18 departments. The most impressive is undoubtedly the one built facing the sea.

The city's School of Fine Arts is located in a superb Edwardian period classified building overlooking Cardigan Bay. It houses a museum open to the public with an impressive collection: there is an important collection of engravings, from the 15th century to the present day, drawings, watercolours and paintings by European artists. The museum also acquired two collections of photographs. The programming is always excellent. We recommend it to you!

It was one of the castles built by Edward I. Only the towers of the far north and south and some remains of the walls remain of the old fortress. The ruins are open-air, scattered on a green platform overlooking the sea. At the centre of this ensemble is the Gorsedd Stones Circle, where the opening ceremonies of Eisteddfod, a national festival of traditional Welsh singers and storytellers, took place. The thirteen erected stones each represent a county in Wales

It is impossible not to notice this building, exuberant with its round towers with pointed roofs, elaborate windows, balconies and arches.

In 1864, when the city of Aberystwyth was connected to the national railway network, Thomas Savin bought the building and transformed it into a hotel. He asked the architect J.P. Seddon to give this Victorian building a more "Gothic Revival" look. Take the time to enter and discover the pretty circular balcony and the carved wooden ceiling. This strange architecture is a very successful mix of styles

A visit to the National Library of Wales is a must for anyone interested in the country's history. The oldest manuscript in Welsh, the Black Book of Carmarthen, is on display. The library also holds the only copy of the first book printed in Welsh, Yn y lhyvyr hwnn, dating from 1546. As you can see, the library houses a priceless heritage of Welsh and Celtic literary treasures.

It is the largest camera obscura (darkroom) in the world. This Victorian period attraction has since benefited from technical advances in optics and allows a much clearer vision than it was at its origins. Today, more than 1,000 m² of landscapes are visible, and this in a very precise and detailed way. An impressive optical experience. To get there, you take a funicular to reach the hill. In the end, in addition to the camera obscura, we enjoy a superb view of the city of Aberystwyth.

This entertaining and popular museum exhibits objects relating to everyday life in the 1900s. A section devoted to arts and crafts features watchmaking and silversmithing tools, among others.

Upstairs are landscape paintings and genre scenes depicting the lives of farmers and fishermen in the Aberystwyth and Cardigan Bay areas. The Bowen Gallery is devoted to the archaeology and geological formations of Cardigan Bay. Also on display are artefacts from excavations in the area, dating back to the Neolithic period.

It is a large and pleasant building, on several floors, where films are shown, shows are staged... Two contemporary art galleries present exhibitions all year round; one is exclusively reserved for photography. In another space, you can also discover the excellent collection of ceramics belonging to the university. The friendly and relaxed atmosphere, a British literature library and the surrounding park are just some of the reasons to visit. There is also a cafeteria on site.