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Things to Do in Aberystwyth | Activities, Beaches and Culture

What Is There to Do in Aberystwyth?

More than you might expect for a town of 15,000 people. Aberystwyth has two beaches, a Victorian promenade, a cliff railway to the top of Constitution Hill, a ruined castle on the headland, and the National Library of Wales. It is a university town, which gives it a cultural life that punches well above its weight.

Along the Seafront

The promenade runs the length of the North Beach, from the castle ruins at the south end to Constitution Hill at the north. The cliff railway, the longest electric cliff railway in Britain, takes you to the top where there are views along the coast to the Llyn Peninsula on clear days. At the base, the old pier building sits between the two beaches.

Culture and Arts

Aberystwyth Arts Centre, part of the university campus on Penglais Hill, has a cinema, theatre, galleries and a cafe with views across the bay. The National Library of Wales holds free exhibitions and is one of only six legal deposit libraries in the UK. The Ceredigion Museum in the town centre, housed in the old Coliseum theatre, covers local history from the Iron Age onwards.

Walks from Town

The Ceredigion Coast Path runs through Aberystwyth in both directions. Walk north to Clarach Bay and on to Borth, or south towards Aberaeron on a cliff path with views down to rocky coves. Inland, the Vale of Rheidol leads to Devils Bridge, reachable on foot, by car, or on the Vale of Rheidol steam railway.

Nearby Days Out

Nant yr Arian forest, 20 minutes east, has walking trails, mountain biking and daily red kite feeding. Borth is ten minutes north with a long sandy beach and the Borth Animalarium. The Rheidol hydroelectric power station at Cwm Rheidol offers free tours in summer.

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Dyfi Discovery Walk | Ceinws to Llanwrin Walk

Address

Ceinws, Machynlleth, Powys, SY20 8BL

Telephone
0300 065 3000

Machynlleth

Start: Ceinws village
Grid Reference: SH760 059
Distance: 11.3 km – 7 miles (additional 0.7km - 0.4 miles to Llanwrin)
Grade: Moderate / Strenuous
Terrain: Firm tracks, open fields
Maps: OS Explorer 215
Tal-y-bont Beach / Benar Beach

Address

Tal-y-bont, Barmouth, Gwynedd, LL44 2HD

Telephone
01341 281617

info@barmouthstation.com

Barmouth

To the north of Barmouth near Tal-y-bont, Bennar's fine, sandy beach is backed by the occasional sand dune.
Sustrans Route 81:Aberystwyth - Rhayader

Address

Aberystwyth Town Centre, SY23 1LG

Telephone
01179268893

Sustrans route 81 or "Lon Cambria" is an East-West cycle route which crosses the Cambrian Mountains and heads towards Shrewsbury and beyond.
Walking Newtown

Address

Various Walking Trails, Y Drenewydd | Newtown, Powys, SY16 2BB

Telephone
01686 625544

townclerk@newtown.org.uk

Y Drenewydd | Newtown

Walking Newtown have developed a series of walks in and around the Newtown area. The walks are all graded and vary from easy to strenuous, town trails, short strolls and accessible trails.
Three Rivers Road Ride

Address

Llanwrtyd Wells, Powys, LD5 4RW

Telephone
01591 610666

info@llanwrtyd.com

Powys

THREE RIVERS ROAD RIDE
Distance 30.5 (19m)
Time 1.5 - 3hrs
Mary Jones | Heritage Trail

Address

Llanfihangel Y Pennant, Near Abergynolwyn, Gwynedd, LL36 9TS

Near Abergynolwyn

The Mary Jones Walk retraces the route the 15-year-old Mary Jones walked 25 miles from Llanfihangel-y-Pennant, across the Welsh mountains, to Bala to get a Bible from Revd. Thomas Charles.
Puccini Gianni Schicchi | Mid Wales Opera Small Stage Autumn Tour - Brecon

Address

Theatr Brycheiniog, Canal Wharf, Brecon, Powys, LD3 7EW

marketing@midwalesopera.co.uk

Brecon

Dates

From:
12 Nov 2026Open 19:30 -

Mid Wales Opera presents a full evening of Italian opera, opening with Puccini’s brilliant, one-act comedy Gianni Schicchi, one of the greatest and most sublime of all Italian comic operas.
Bala Lake Railway | Halloween Trains

Address

Llyn Tegid | Bala Lake Railway, Llanuwchlyn Station, Llanuwchlyn, Bala, Gwynedd, LL23 7DD

Telephone
01678 540666

enquiries@bala-lake-railway.co.uk

Llanuwchlyn, Bala

Dates

From:

30 Oct 2026to31 Oct 2026

Join us for a scary evening train to celebrate Halloween!
The Cambrian Way | Central Section

Address

Llanymddfri | Llandovery, Carmarthenshire, SA20 0AW

Carmarthenshire

The Cambrian Way is a challenging long distance walk through the most unspoilt countryside in Wales. Walkers will be amazed at the remoteness of the central section route through Mid Wales from the Brecon Beacons to Southern Snowdonia.
Wales Coast Path | Pembrokeshire

Address

Ceibwr Bay - Tenby, Pembrokeshire, SA43 3BU

Telephone
0300 065 3000

wcp@cyfoethnaturiolcymru.gov.uk

Pembrokeshire is home to the iconic and world class landscape of the Pembrokeshire Coast National
Park.
Montgomery Cycle Trail | Llandyssil and Abermule

Address

Circular Cycling Route, Montgomery, Powys, SY15 6HN

Telephone
01938 552043

admin@montgomery-wales.co.uk

Montgomery

There are five Montgomery Cycle Trails based in and around Montgomery that will provide you with beautiful views of the dramatic countryside of the Mid Wales Marches. Cycle Parking is available in Broad Street in the town centre.
Bwlch Nant yr Arian | Running Trails (NRW)

Address

Bwlch Nant yr Arian, Bwlch Nant yr Arian Visitor Centre, Ponterwyd, Aberystwyth, Ceredigion, SY23 3AB

Telephone
01970 890453

bnya@naturalresourceswales.gov.uk

Ponterwyd, Aberystwyth

Bwlch Nant yr Arian is famous for feeding red kites daily. Range of waymarked walking, mountain biking, running and horse-riding trails and a mountain bike skills park. Café, shop and play area.
Cwmtydu Beach

Address

New Quay, Ceredigion, SA44 6LQ

Telephone
01545 570881

tourism@ceredigion.gov.uk

New Quay

Cwmtydu is an attractive, quiet beach that was once a harbour used as a traditional smugglers’ hideaway.
Mawddach Estuary

Address

Dolgellau - Barmouth, Southern Snowdonia, LL40 2TA

Telephone
01766 770274

Dolgellau - Barmouth

The vast and sandy Mawddach estuary is one of Snowdonia National Park’s most remarkable areas. The area is designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest and a Special Area of Conservation due to its salt marsh and lowland peat habitats.
Harlech Railway Station

Address

Ffordd Morfa, Harlech, Gwynedd, LL46 2UL

Telephone
0800 464 0000

Harlech

Harlech railway station is on the Cambrian Coast Line from Machynlleth to Pwllheli.
Builth Road Railway Station

Address

Llechrhyd Terrace, nr Builth Wells, Powys, LD2 3PY

Telephone
0800 464 0000

feedback@traveline.cymru

nr Builth Wells

Builth Wells has a railway station two miles north of the town; Builth Road is on the Heart of Wales Line which runs from Shrewsbury to Swansea.
Radnor Forest | Warren Wood (NRW)

Address

Near New Radnor, New Radnor, Powys, LD8 2TN

Telephone
0300 065 3000

enquiries@naturalresourceswales.co.uk

New Radnor

Warren Wood has been popular with tourists for over 200 years because of the waterfall known as Water-Break-its-Neck. The waymarked trail along a gorge and explore the woodland with some of the largest trees in Radnorshire.
Coed y Bont Community Woodland

Address

Abbey Road, Pontrhydfendigaid, Ceredigion, SY25 6ER

Telephone
0300 065 3000

enquiries@naturalresourceswales.gov.uk

Pontrhydfendigaid

Coed y Bont is a community woodland situated on the edge of the village of Pontrhydfendigaid in the foothills of the Cambrian Mountains. The woodland is recognised as a Dark Sky Discovery Site.
Dyfnant Forest | Pont Llogel Wood

Address

Dyfnant & Vyrnwy Forests (NRW), Car Park & Picnic Site, Lake Vyrnwy, Powys, SY21 0QH

Telephone
0300 065 3000

enquiries@naturalresourceswales.gov.uk

Lake Vyrnwy

Pont Llogel is a small woodland within the Dyfnant Forest next to the Afon Efyrnwy (River Vyrnwy) and the car park and picnic area is set beside an old stone bridge at the edge of a hamlet. This tranquil area has been designated a SSSI choice of 3…
Pontarfynach | Devil's Bridge

Address

Devil's Bridge, Ceredigion, SY23 3JW

Devil's Bridge

The village of Devil's Bridge is situated at the head of the Rheidol Valley in the heart of the Cambrian Mountains. Famous for its bridges and waterfall, Devil's Bridge and can be reached via the Vale of Rheidol Steam Railway.
Coed Maen Arthur | Woodland Walk

Address

Coed Maenarthur Woodland, Pontrhydygroes, Devil's Bridge, Ceredigion

Telephone
0300 065 3000

enquiries@naturalresourceswales.gov.uk

Devil's Bridge

Coed Maen Arthur is a woodland in the Ystwyth valley near the village of Pont-rhyd-y-groes, 14 miles from Aberstwyth. The waymarked walk goes through the woodland to Castell Grogwynion, one of the largest hill forts in Wales, and passes near an…