Ceredigion, on the west coast of mid Wales, is a favourite holiday destination, with a coastal path covering 60 miles of the Marine Heritage Coast Path around Cardigan Bay. Along the coast there are historic harbours and award-winning beaches, suitable for families and water sport enthusiasts.

Inland Ceredigion has lovely unspoiled countryside where many visitors enjoy walking, cycling, fishing and golf. In the east of the county are the rugged Cambrian Mountains, ideal terrain for climbing and mountain biking.

Boats in Aberaeron harbour

Cardigan

Cardigan, once 'capital' of the county, is a busy market town with Georgian and Victorian buildings and attractive shops. Cardigan castle dating from the 12th century is undergoing extensive restoration.

Situated on the River Teifi estuary, Cardigan is an ideal base for exploring the Teifi River Trail and Nature Reserve and the lovely Teifi valley. Theatr Mwldan in Cardigan has an all-year programme of entertainment, a gallery and restaurant.

Cardigan's attractions include the Cardigan Heritage Centre, telling the story of the town from Norman times. Across the estuary at Gwbert-On-Sea is Cardigan Island Coastal Farm Park, the best place in Wales to see seals in their natural habitat.

In the Teifi valley is Cilgerron Castle, one of Wales's first tourist attractions.

Aberporth Beach

North of Cardigan are the seaside villages of Aberporth, with two safe award-winning golden sandy beaches and Llangranog which lies in a valley, with a ravine where the river Hawen forms a waterfall. The lower beach village is a quiet seaside holiday spot, with a walk up from the village around the headland of Ynys Lochtyn with spectacular views.

Dylan Thomas and New Quay

New Quay, built on cliffs overlooking Cardigan Bay, is a popular holiday resort for families, with a sheltered harbour and safe beaches. Between the narrow terraced streets, there are ropewalks, where rope was twisted in the days when New Quay was a shipbuilding centre. Boat trips into the bay to see Bottle-nosed Dolphins sail on a regular basis.

Dylan Thomas was a resident in New Quay in 1944-5 where he wrote 'Quite Early One Morning'. You can walk the Dylan Thomas town trail, including the path along the cliffs enjoyed by the poet.

Coastal Path at Aberaeron

Aberaeron

The Reverend Alban Jones Gwynne planned the town of Aberaeron in the early 19th century. It has many interesting historic architectural features and a sheltered harbour popular with visiting yachtsmen. South of the town is the 18th century Welsh gentry estate of Llanerchaeron, designed by John Nash. It has many original features, a working organic farm and two restored walled gardens.

Aberystwyth Attractions

Aberystwyth North Beach

A holiday in Ceredigion often starts in Aberystwyth, the largest town and administrative centre of the County whose history goes back over 700 years.

The town is built between three hills and has a pier and harbour, with Victorian and Edwardian buildings along the seafront.

There are pebble and sandy beaches and a ruined Norman castle surrounded by public gardens.

The Aberystwyth Electric Cliff Railway is the longest electric cliff railway in Britain, climbing Constitution Hill from the promenade, to the Victorian camera obscura.

Aberystwyth is the home of the University of Wales, with several thousand students adding to the town's vibrant atmosphere.

The National Library of Wales in Aberystwyth houses many literary treasures of Wales and other Celtic countries including the illuminated 'Black Book of Carmarthen'.

Aberystwyth's attractions include Ceredigion Museum, housed in the former Coliseum Theatre, with a fine collection of historic artefacts, and the Aberystwyth Arts Centre, a department of the University of Wales which also houses a concert hall, theatre and holds a wide range of events.

Aberystwyth Castle

Aberystwyth Pier at Sunset

Beaches of Borth

A few miles north is the old fishing village of Borth. The award winning golden sandy beach here leads to Dyfi National Nature Reserve. An attraction in Borth to delight animal lovers is the Borth Animalarium.

Vale of Rheidol Railway

Steam Train near Devils Bridge

From Aberystwyth you can take a trip on the Vale of Rheidol Railway, a narrow gauge railway, with rails less than two feet apart.

The journey passes through the lovely Rheidol valley rising over 600 feet, terminating at Devil's Bridge where you can see the three bridges over the river, along with the famous 300 foot Mynach Falls, the Devil's Punch Bowl and Jacob's Ladder.

Strata Florida Abbey

South of Devil's Bridge is Strata Florida Abbey, or 'Vale of Flowers'. The ruined 12th century Cistercian Abbey still displays many intriguing features of its past status.

Spot A Red Kite

The unspoiled area of Wales around Tregaron contains sites such as the National Nature Reserve Cors Goch Glan Teifi, one of Europe's largest growing Peat bogs, home to many rare species of flora and fauna, where if you're lucky, you might even spot a Red Kite.

Llyn Brianne Reservoir

Lampeter is a market town on the north bank of the River Teifi, home to St. David's College established in 1822, after Oxford and Cambridge the oldest degree awarding institution in England and Wales. In 1971 St. David's became part of the University of Wales.

With so many places to visit, activities to enjoy and such a beautiful natural landscape, Ceredigion is set to remain a firm favourite with holidaymakers for many years to come.