Ceredigion

principal area in mid-Wales, corresponding to the historic county of Cardiganshire

Ceredigion is an extensive county in mid Wales (440,630 acres (1783 km²)). A partly coastal county, it is bordered by Cardigan Bay to the west (part of the Irish Sea), Gwynedd to the north, Powys to the east, Carmarthenshire to the south, and Pembrokeshire to the south-west. Its population wsa about 72,000 in 2022. It corresponds more-or-less to the historic county of Cardiganshire, a name which is sometimes still in use.

Towns and villages

Towns

  • 🌍 Aberaeron – coastal town with small harbour
  • 🌍 Aberporth – one of Ceredigion's favourite escapes with a blue flag beach.
  • 🌍 Aberystwyth – old seaside resort with promenade, university town and home to the National Library of Wales
  • 🌍 Cardigan (Welsh: Aberteifi) – a coastal town that is home to Cardigan Castle, which was the site of the first competitive Eisteddfod in 1176
  • 🌍 Lampeter (Llanbedr Pont Steffan or Llambed) – home of a theological college
  • 🌍 New Quay (Cei Newydd) – seaside resort town
  • 🌍 Newcastle Emlyn (Castellnewydd Emlyn) – market town partly in Carmarthenshire, nearby is the National Coracle Centre
  • 🌍 Tregaron — an ancient market town astride the River Brenig, a tributary of the River Teifi
  • 🌍 Llandysul – small town, centre for number of river and hill activities

Villages

  • 🌍 Borth (Y Borth) – basic seaside village close to Ynyslas dunes
  • 🌍 Devil's Bridge (Pontarfynach) – take the Vale of Rheidol Railway to the steep walk around the waterfall and the famous bridge
  • 🌍 Llangrannog – Blue Flag beach
  • 🌍 Ponterwyd – small village near Bwlch Nant yr Arian Forest Visitor Centre and the Silvermountain experience
  • 🌍 Pontrhydfendigaid – close to Strata Florida Abbey

Understand

The Welsh-language name Ceredigion means 'Land of Ceredig', who was a son of Cunedda, a chieftain who reconquered much of Wales from the Irish around the fifth century CE.

Aside from the long coastline on Cardigan Bay, much of Cardiganshire is dominated by the Cambrian Mountains.

Visitor information

Get in

By car

The A487 runs parallel to the coast to Cardigan and Aberystwyth, from Fishguard in the south to Bangor in the north. The A44 goes eastwards from Aberystwyth to Rhayader, Leominster, Worcester and Oxford.

By rail

There are two mainline railway stations in Ceredigion; Aberystwyth and Borth. From these stations passengers can catch trains from Birmingham and Shrewsbury. Services are provided by Arriva Trains Wales on the Cambrian Line.

  • Aberystwyth, the terminus of the line, the station is on the outskirts of the town. A short walk from the station is the idyllic seafront. A typical Victorian seafront, with large houses overlooking the beach.
  • Borth, the next stop from Aberystwyth. Located just off the main road which runs parallel to the beach. Beach side amenities are typical of a British resort, cafes and shops sell buckets, spades, body boards, tea, coffee and sandwiches. Free public toilets are a very short walk from the station on the main road.

Get around

Car is the only practical means of getting round the area.

By bus

See

  • Dyfi Furnace is an 18th-century blast furnace that gives its name to Furnace village.

Go next


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