Photo of Devil's Bridge Falls, a waterfall in Ceredigion, mid Wales.

Devil's Bridge Falls© Bill Boaden / Geograph · CC BY-SA 2.0

Places to explore near Aberystwyth

A Victorian seaside resort and university town on the shore of Cardigan Bay, Aberystwyth curls between two headlands, its promenade running below Constitution Hill and past the gaunt ruin of Aberystwyth Castle. Behind rise the Cambrian uplands, empty and boggy, climbing to Pumlumon Fawr, source of both the Severn and the Wye. The narrow-gauge Vale of Rheidol Railway climbs inland to the falls at Devil's Bridge, and dunes and estuary birds gather to the north at Ynyslas.

65 places within 25 km — the standouts first, nearest first within each group. 2 are national icons.

Open the map here

Worth the tripnational icons and local highlights within reach

Photo along the Wales Coast Path, an 870-mile long-distance path running from Chepstow to Queensferry, Wales.

Wales Coast Path

Long-distance path

Walk the outline of a whole nation — 870 miles of cliff, estuary and beach from Chepstow round to Queensferry.

0.2 km NW · spans 16 counties

Photo of Aberystwyth, a village in Ceredigion, mid Wales.

Aberystwyth

Seaside university and county town on Cardigan Bay, with a promenade, ruined castle, cliff railway and the National Library of Wales.

0.2 km SE · Ceredigion

Photo of Vale of Rheidol Railway, a visitor attraction near Aberystwyth, Ceredigion, mid Wales.

Vale of Rheidol Railway

Attraction near Aberystwyth

Narrow-gauge steam railway climbing from Aberystwyth up the Rheidol Valley to Devil's Bridge.

0.4 km SE

Photo: Constitution Hill, a viewpoint near Aberystwyth, Ceredigion, mid Wales.

Constitution Hill

Viewpoint near Aberystwyth

Headland above Aberystwyth reached by a Victorian cliff railway, with a camera obscura and views along the Cardigan Bay coast.

1.1 km N

Photo of St Padarn's Church, Llanbadarn Fawr, a church in Ceredigion, mid Wales.

St Padarn's Church, Llanbadarn Fawr

Church near Llanbadarn Fawr

The largest medieval church in mid Wales, a 13th-century cruciform building on an early monastic site near Aberystwyth.

1.6 km SE

Photo of Clarach Bay Beach, a beach near Aberystwyth, Ceredigion, mid Wales.

Clarach Bay Beach

Beach near Aberystwyth

Sheltered pebble-and-sand holiday beach in a small valley between Aberystwyth and Borth.

2 km N

Photo of Wallog, a beach near Aberystwyth, Ceredigion, mid Wales.

Wallog

Beach near Aberystwyth

Remote shingle beach a short walk from Clarach, beside the mysterious Sarn Wallog shingle causeway.

4.1 km N

Photo of Cors Fochno (Borth Bog), a nature reserve in Ceredigion, mid Wales.

Cors Fochno (Borth Bog)

Nature reserve near Borth

One of the largest intact raised bogs in Britain, part of the Dyfi National Nature Reserve behind Borth.

10.7 km NE

Photo of Ynyslas Dunes, a beach near Aberdyfi, Ceredigion, mid Wales.

Ynyslas Dunes

Beach near Aberdyfi

Wide sandy beach and dune system at the mouth of the Dyfi estuary, part of the Dyfi National Nature Reserve.

12.4 km N

Photo of Bwlch Nant yr Arian, a visitor attraction near Devil's Bridge, Ceredigion, mid Wales.

Bwlch Nant yr Arian

Attraction near Devil's Bridge

Forest visitor centre east of Aberystwyth with daily red kite feeding by a lake and waymarked walking and mountain-bike trails.

13.4 km E

Photo of Eryri, a National Park in north Wales.

Eryri

National Park near Trawsfynydd

Wales at its wildest — Yr Wyddfa and the highest ridges south of Scotland, above slate valleys and glacial lakes.

14 km N

Photo of Aberdyfi, a village in Eryri, Gwynedd, north Wales.

Aberdyfi

Estuary village at the mouth of the Dyfi with a sandy beach and yachting harbour on the southern edge of the park.

14.5 km N · Gwynedd

Photo along the Cambrian Way, a 298-mile long-distance path running from Cardiff to Conwy, Wales.

Cambrian Way

Long-distance path

The mountain connoisseur's route over the roof of Wales — Cardiff to Conwy by way of the Bannau, the Cambrian wilderness and Eryri.

14.7 km E · spans 9 counties

Photo of Silver Mountain Experience, a visitor attraction near Devil's Bridge, Ceredigion, mid Wales.

Silver Mountain Experience

Attraction near Devil's Bridge

Former silver-lead mine at Ponterwyd offering underground tours and a mining museum in the Cambrian hills.

14.8 km E

Photo of Devil's Bridge, a village in Ceredigion, mid Wales.

Devil's Bridge

Village at the head of the Rheidol Valley, famous for its three stacked bridges, gorge waterfalls and the Vale of Rheidol steam railway terminus.

16 km E · Ceredigion

Photo of Devil's Bridge Falls, a waterfall in Ceredigion, mid Wales.

Devil's Bridge Falls

Waterfall near Devil's Bridge

The Afon Mynach drops around 90 metres in five stages through a wooded ravine at Devil's Bridge, among the highest falls in Wales.

16.4 km E

Photo of RSPB Ynys-hir, a nature reserve near Aberdyfi, Ceredigion, mid Wales.

RSPB Ynys-hir

Nature reserve near Aberdyfi

RSPB reserve of estuary, marsh and oak woodland on the Dyfi, a former filming home of BBC Springwatch.

17.1 km NE

Photo of Ynyshir, a restaurant near Eglwys Fach, Ceredigion, mid Wales.

Ynyshir

Restaurant · With rooms near Eglwys Fach

Gareth Ward's intense tasting-menu restaurant with rooms in a remote mid-Wales former hunting lodge.

17.2 km NE

Photo of Nant-y-moch Reservoir, a reservoir near Talybont, Ceredigion, mid Wales.

Nant-y-moch Reservoir

Reservoir near Talybont

Upland reservoir in the Cambrian Mountains below Pumlumon, in a little-visited valley with open access to the hills.

17.5 km E

Photo of Rhos yr Hafod Inn, a pub near Cross Inn, Ceredigion, mid Wales.

Rhos yr Hafod Inn

Pub near Cross Inn

A traditional Cardigan Bay hinterland local crowned Wales's best pub for its beer range and community spirit.

18 km S

Photo of Cors Caron National Nature Reserve, a nature reserve near Pontrhydfendigaid, Ceredigion, mid Wales.

Cors Caron National Nature Reserve

Nature reserve near Pontrhydfendigaid

Vast raised peat bog in the Teifi valley near Tregaron, crossed by an accessible boardwalk with a bog hide.

20.6 km SE

Photo: Pumlumon Fawr, a 753m hill near Devil's Bridge, Ceredigion, mid Wales.

Pumlumon Fawr

Hewitt · Nuttall near Devil's Bridge

Source of the Severn and Wye, Cambrian roof.

21.1 km E

Photo of Llyn Llygad Rheidol, a lake near Dovey Junction, Ceredigion, mid Wales.

Llyn Llygad Rheidol

Llyn near Dovey Junction

Glacial lake in a cirque on the north side of Pumlumon, the source of the River Rheidol.

21.5 km E

Photo of Aberaeron, a village in Ceredigion, mid Wales.

Aberaeron

Regency harbour town of colourful painted houses around a planned Georgian quay, known for seafood and honey ice cream.

22.6 km SW · Ceredigion

Photo of Strata Florida Abbey, a ruined abbey near Pontrhydfendigaid, Ceredigion, mid Wales.

Strata Florida Abbey

Abbey near Pontrhydfendigaid

Remote Cistercian ruin with carved west doorway.

22.8 km SE

Photo along the Glyndŵr's Way, a 135-mile National Trail running from Knighton to Welshpool, mid Wales.

Glyndŵr's Way

A long horseshoe through the empty hills of mid-Wales, from Knighton to Welshpool by way of Machynlleth.

22.9 km NE · Powys

Photo of Teifi Pools, a lake near Pontrhydfendigaid, Ceredigion, mid Wales.

Teifi Pools

Llyn near Pontrhydfendigaid

Cluster of natural upland lakes at around 1,500 feet near the source of the River Teifi, above Pontrhydfendigaid.

24.4 km SE

Also nearbygood places nearby, nearest first

Photo of Starling Cloud, a pub near Aberystwyth, Ceredigion, mid Wales.

Starling Cloud

Pub near Aberystwyth

Aberystwyth pub with rooms and a courtyard, near the seafront and the National Library of Wales.

0.9 km SE

Photo of the coast at Mynachdy'r Graig, Ceredigion, mid Wales.

Mynachdy'r Graig

Coastline near Llanrhystud

A National Trust place in Ceredigion.

7.6 km S

Borth

Long-street seaside village on a shingle-and-sand spit north of Aberystwyth, backed by the Cors Fochno raised bog.

8.7 km N · Ceredigion

Bwlch y Geuffordd Gardens

Garden near Bronant

Evolving three-acre wildlife and water garden in the Ceredigion uplands near Bronant.

15.7 km SE

Photo of Bryn Bras, Ponterwyd, a country estate near Devil's Bridge, Ceredigion, mid Wales.

Bryn Bras, Ponterwyd

Country estate near Devil's Bridge

A National Trust place in Ceredigion.

16.2 km E

Photo of The George Borrow Hotel, a pub near Ponterwyd, Ceredigion, mid Wales.

The George Borrow Hotel

Pub near Ponterwyd

17th-century inn at Ponterwyd in the Cambrian Mountains, named after the author of Wild Wales.

16.2 km E

New Quay Honey Farm

Farm & farm shop near Cross Inn

Bee farm near New Quay with a shop, cafe and mead, producing honey and beeswax products.

18 km S

Tywyn

Coastal town on Cardigan Bay, terminus of the Talyllyn Railway and home to St Cadfan's Church and its inscribed stone.

19 km N · Gwynedd

Photo of St Cadfan's Church, a church near Tywyn, Gwynedd, north Wales.

St Cadfan's Church

Church near Tywyn

Norman church at Tywyn holding the Cadfan Stone, one of the earliest known inscriptions in the Welsh language.

19.2 km N

Everything else within 25 km (29) — reserves, earthworks & places to check before travelling

Hafod Estate (Hafod Uchtryd)Garden21.8 km E
Pen Pumlumon Llygad-bychanHewitt22.1 km E
Harbourmaster HotelPub22.7 km SW
The Hive on the QuayFarm & farm shop22.7 km SW
LlanerchaeronHouse & garden23.2 km SW
Dolgoch FallsWaterfall23.7 km N
Pen Pumlumon ArwystliHewitt23.8 km E
TregaronVillage23.9 km SE
Y TalbotPub24 km SE
Wye Valley WalkLong-distance path24.1 km E
Aberystwyth CastleCastleaccess unclear0.5 km SW
AberPoethSauna0.8 km N
Castell GwallterCastleaccess unclear6.3 km NE
Trawsgoed Roman FortRoman archaeological siteaccess unclear12.4 km SE
Hafod IthelMarilyn14.1 km S
Ffridd Newydd stone circleStone circle15 km NE
Disgwylfa FawrMarilyn15.6 km E
Ystrad-Meurig CastleCastleaccess unclear18.4 km SE
DrosgolMarilynaccess unclear18.5 km E
Y Garn (Ceredigion)Hewitt19.4 km E
Eglwys Gwyddelod StoneStone circle20 km N
Banc Llechwedd-mawrMarilyn20.7 km NE
Pumlumon FachNuttallaccess unclear21 km E
Castell Allt Craig-ArthCastleaccess unclear21.3 km SW
Pen y GarnHewitt21.8 km E
Cefn-Caer Roman SiteRoman archaeological siteaccess unclear22.1 km NE
Foel CocynMarilynaccess unclear22.9 km N
Llan Ddu FawrMarilyn23.5 km SE
TarrenhendreHewitt24.5 km N

Ordered by how far each place is worth travelling for, then by distance. Distances are straight-line to the nearest edge of each place — paths wind, of course.