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Aberystwyth

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Aberystwyth is a seaside and university town in the middle of Cardigan Bay's coast. It has a wide range of amenities and the best shopping in the area.

Click here for a map of Aberystwyth. See this site's map page for details on printing the map. Note that on the map:

• Penparcau Road is the A487 to Aberaeron.
• Llanbadarn Road is the A44 to Llangurig.
• The coloured (green) road at the top right of the map (Penglais Road) is the A487 to Machynlleth.

Tourist Information

The Tourist Information Centre is at the junction of Terrace Road and Bath Street. Phone: 01970 612125.

For more information on Aberystwyth try these websites:

• General information.
• Directory of contact details for local amenities.

Information last reviewed: 11th/7/06.

Parking

The main car parks are:

• Park Avenue (Coedlan Y Park) has most of the town parking. There is a free park-and-ride and numerous long- and short-stay pay-and-displays.

  If you are coming to Aberystwyth on the A44 then as you enter the outskirts of town you will get to a set of traffic lights in Llanbadarn Fawr. Follow the road left, go over the railway lines and at the roundabout take the third exit. Follow the road across the next roundabout and this will take you to Park Avenue.

  If you are on the A487 from Aberaeron then as you reach Aberystwyth you come to a roundabout. Take the second exit, go down the steep hill to the next roundabout. Take the second exit and follow the road across the next roundabout. This will take you to Park Avenue.

• There is free roadside parking along the sea front and a pay-and-display car park on New Promenade at the bottom of the map by the harbour. This is free from November to Easter.

Information last reviewed: 11th/7/06.

Parks and Playgrounds

• Castle playground. This is next to the castle which is beside the large monument (war memorial) on a promontory on New Promenade. The playground is next to the church car park. The easiest way to find the playground is from the top of Great Darkgate Street by the town clock tower. From here walk along the small pedestrianized area with your back to Great Darkgate Street. When you come to a small road cross it and carry straight on. The entrance to the park area and castle will be directly in front of you. The busy fenced playground has a range of things for all ages and there is a toilet next door too.
• Plascrug Park and playground. This long narrow park is off Ffordd Alexandra (Alexandra Road) just beyond the railway station retail area. The entrance is a large gate next to the small roundabout. This is a great place for small children to cycle. The fenced playground is halfway along the park area and is very well equipped and appeals to all ages. Note that the toilet in the park is closed. If you follow the lane at the end of the park you come to the swimming pool.

Information last reviewed: 11th/7/06.

Walks

The nicest walk in Aberystwyth is along the wide flat promenade (see photo 1) which stretches for about a mile. You will go from Constitution Hill at one end, past the Castle to the harbour and marina at the other end.

You can feed the ducks at the harbour. The best place is by the "side-harbour" just where the houses end on New Promenade.

Information last reviewed: 11th/7/06.

Beaches

• Marine Terrace. Mainly slate sand and small stones. Very popular beach on sunny days but the dark sand colour means it gets very hot. There is some rock pooling on the rocky outcrops.
• New Promenade. Either rocks which are great for rock pooling, or beaches made-up of large pebbles. Even when very young my children enjoyed playing with the stones.

Information last reviewed: 11th/7/06.

Castle

The Castle is beside the large monument (war memorial, see photo 2) on a promontory on New Promenade. For the easiest buggy friendly entrance see the entry for Castle playground above. My kids like to take me round and explore the ruins. Note that the grounds contain several drops and high walls. There are also toilets and a playground (see the sections appropriate to these).

Information last reviewed: 11th/7/06.

Cliff Railway

Aberystwyth's cliff railway is the longest electric one in Britain. It runs up Constitution Hill which is at the top end of Marine Terrace. I first took my daughter on this when she was two and a half and she enjoyed the trip immensely. At the top of the hill there are outstanding views along the coast. There is also a large cafe, shop and camera obscura. The paths from the top station to the cafe are buggy friendly. You can also walk up the hill along a winding and stony path that starts from next to the Cliff Railway's lower station. This path is not buggy friendly and has several large drops along it, but my daughter found it no problem at all at five and so younger children will also manage it.

For more information see the Cliff Railway website or phone 01970 617642.

Information last reviewed: 7th/9/06.

Museums

Ceredigion Museum. This very attractive museum is by the Tourist Information Centre at the junction of Terrace Road and Bath Street. It is in an old music hall and uses the seating galleries for its display levels. The theme is local history and has lots of exhibits that excite the interest of my kids. Since my daughter was three and a half we have enjoyed discussing things that catch her interest. Very young children can be occupied in the small play area on the ground floor (where there is a coffee machine). There are free activity sheets for children of all ages in the actual exhibition areas. The museum also has an excellent gift shop with lots of quirky pocket money priced toys. Note that there are a lot of steps up to, and in the museum. There is a lift however.

For more information try the Ceredigion Museum website or phone 01970 633088.

Information last reviewed: 11th/7/06.

Vale of Rheidol Narrow-Gauge Railway

This steam railway (see photo 3) takes you on an hour each way trip through the beautiful Rheidol Valley to Devil's Bridge. My daughter went on this trip at three and a half and we combined it with exploring Devil's Bridge. It was a memorable day-out.

The railway starts at Aberystwyth railway station and has its own car park on Park Avenue.

See the Vale of Rheidol Railway website for more details or phone 01970 625819.

Information last reviewed: 11th/7/06.

Cinemas

• Commodore Cinema: Bath Street (phone 01970 612421).
• Art Centre Cinema: see "Arts Centre".

Information last reviewed: 11th/7/06.

Swimming Pool

The swimming pool is in the town leisure centre which is along Llanbadarn Road. On foot it is nicest to go via Plascrug Park (see "Parks and Playgrounds"). There are two pools, a larger one for adults and older children and a small pool for the young ones. The small pool in particular is very popular with local families. The changing rooms have playpens and the womens' at least has a baby changing table. There is no website so phone: 01970 624579.

The leisure centre itself has excellent holiday activities for children. Phone the same number as for the swimming pool for details.

See also Clarach swimming pool below.

Information last reviewed: 11th/7/06.

Arts Centre

This is on the University campus on the hill out of Aberystwyth (Penglais Road), which is the A487 to Machynlleth. For access to the Centre without steps then use the rear entrance.

The Centre has shows, exhibitions, a cinema and a range of special activity events for kids over the holidays. I took my daughter to see some exhibitions there when see was three and a half and she enjoyed suggesting what the pieces meant and asking me for my explanations.

For details of the Centre's ever changing program see the Aberystwyth Arts Centre website (phone 01970 623232).

Information last reviewed: 11th/7/06.

Shops and Eating

Aberystwyth has a good range of shops including several of the major chains, there are several chemists and all the major banks. The main shopping area is:

• Great Darkgate Street.
• Terrace Road.
• Pier Street.
• The road between Great Darkgate Street and railway station (Terrace Road) and the road from Great Darkgate Street to the end of Park Avenue (Chalybeate Street). Also the lane between them (Cambrian Terrace).
• Eastgate Street.
• The town end of Park Avenue (retail park).
• Alexandra Road (Ffordd Alexandra), retail park and some small shops.
• There is a large retail area at the out-of-town end of Park Avenue.

Supermarkets:

• Spar (24 hour) on Terrace Road.
• Lidls and Iceland in the retail area next to the railway station.
• Large Somerfield on the retail area on the town end of Park Avenue.
• Morrisons on the retail area at the out-of-town end of Park Avenue (has toddler toilet / nappy change room).

Aberystwyth has an enormous number of cafes, restaurants and take-aways, especially in the main shopping area. For cafe meals we tend to use:

• National Milk Bar: sea end of Terrace Road (nappy changer in ladies toilets).
• The Carvery: sea end of Terrace Road (nappy changer in ladies toilets).
• The Carlton: midway along Great Darkgate Street (lots of steps up to it though).
• Weatherspoons: at the railway station.
• McDonalds: at the out of town end of Park Avenue by the retail park.

Click here for a listing of places to eat.

Information last reviewed: 11th/7/06.

Toilets

• Town end of Park Avenue. Best in town by far, has separate nappy changing room / toddler toilet and is accessible with a buggy.
• Marine Terrace just up the map from where Terrace Road joins (basic).
• Bath Street car park (very basic).
• Castle grounds next to the playground. There is a separate nappy changing room. See "Parks and Playgrounds" above.
• New Promenade car park by the harbour at the bottom of the map (recently modernised).

Information last reviewed: 11th/7/06.

Other Attractions in the Area

Clarach Swimming Pool

This swimming pool has an extensive shallow end and is great for kids. To get to the pool from Aberystwyth take the A487 towards Machynlleth. Just as you leave Aberystwyth turn left along the B4572. Shortly after a hair-pin bend on a steep hill you will pass a small church, just beyond this take the left turn to Clarach. The swimming pool is in the Glan Y Mor Leisure Centre (phone 01970 828900). You can park by the beach and the entrance to the pool is tucked away on the seaward side of the large building by the car park. The pool is open to the general public from 10am to 6pm.

See also Aberystwyth swimming pool above.

Information last reviewed: 5th/7/06.

Cwm Rheidol Visitors Centre and Hydro-Electric Power Station

The Cwm Rheidol hydro-electric scheme is set in the beautiful Rheidol Valley. To get to the Rheidol Valley take the A44 from Aberystwyth towards Llangurig. After about 4 miles you will reach Capel Bangor, turn right along a side road sign-posted to the Rheidol Valley scheme. The Visitors Centre is a further three miles up the valley by the reservoir. The "Magic of Life Butterfly House" (see later) is next to the Centre. The power station is a further mile up the road.

This Visitors Centre has interactive exhibits on the Cwm Rheidol hydro-electric scheme. My daughter at five and a half loved trying the interactive exhibits, including turning a generator by hand to see if she could power some common household appliances.

The Centre has a cafe that serves snacks and sandwiches and a big grass playing field that my kids love to play ball on.

The Power Station is well landscaped and unobtrusive and you can visit it on one of the regular guided tours. I took my daughter there when she was five and a half. We were the only ones on the tour and so the guide adjusted it to suit my daughter. She enjoyed the visit and learned a lot as well. With a larger group a child orientated tour would not be possible and you may find small children becoming a little restless.

The standard tour includes a video and a "hard-hatted" visit to the control room and generator room. You also go outside to look around the adjoining fish farm.

There is also windfarm as part of this electrical generation scheme. For information on visiting this see Ystumtuen Wind Farm on the Devil's Bridge page.

For more information on the Visitors Centre and Power Station phone 01970 880667 or visit the Powergen/Eon website.

Information last reviewed:11th/7/06.

The Magic of Life Butterfly House

The Butterfly House is on the same grounds as the Cwm Rheidol Visitors Centre (see above for directions). I took my daughter there when she was five and a half. The people there showed her the new exhibits and explained the butterflies to her. They have an obvious passion for the insects. My daughter enjoyed wandering around looking at the butterflies and caterpillars and asking me lots of questions.

For more details phone 01970 880928 or visit Magic of Life.org.

Information last reviewed: 7th/9/06.

Pentre Bach

Pentre Bach (pronounced "pent-re baa-ch" where the "ch" is as in "loch") is the film set of the Welsh TV series of the same name. The most famous character on the series is Sali Mali who is also a popular cartoon character on Nick Junior. Pentre Bach means "little village" and that is exactly what it is, a street of houses very imaginatively decorated for the TV series. You can go in many of the houses and all through the colourful grounds are areas for the children to play. Sali Mali herself puts in an appearance periodically for the children to meet and be photographed with. There is also a small cafe. Both our children love this place, they like the TV series and so recognise the locations, all children love to nose around other peoples' houses, and the several play areas means that they can play with out getting board of the location.

Several of the houses in the village can be rented as holiday homes. "Gwesty Pili Pala" is the one we would most like to have because of its outrageous decor.

Pentre Bach is in Blaenpennal which is about 14 miles south west of Aberystwyth (3 miles from Tregaron). From Aberystwyth take the A487 south towards Aberaeron. In Llanfarian turn left on to the A485, pass through Llanilar, Lledrod and Bronnant. Pentre Bach is sign-posted along a road to your right, the entrance is on the left just past a chapel.

For more details phone 01974 251676.

Information last reviewed: 7th/9/06.

Disclaimer: This site is based on the author's experiences with his own children and therefore the advice may not be applicable to other children. The comments provided are the author's own opinions and should be treated as such. The author does not accept any responsibility for any damage, loss or injury resulting from the use of this site.