Aberystwyth

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Aberystwyth is in the county of Ceredigion, in Wales.

	aberystwyth Travel Guide : 1 Understand 2 Get in 2.1 By train 2.2 By car 2.3 By bus 2.4 By air 3 Get around 4 See 5 Do 6 Stay Safe 7 External links

Understand

Aberystwyth, called the true capital of Wales by some (quite who we're not sure), is a smallish town on the Ceredigion coast, just below the Dovey estuary. Politically, it's in the heart of Nationalist Wales, and is the birthplace of the Welsh Language movement. It is home to one of the oldest parts of the University of Wales, which is attended by some 8,000 students. It is also home to the National Library of Wales, one of the UK's few copyright libraries, meaning it has a copy of every book published in Britain, which also means that it has one of the highest figures for books per head of population in the world. Its other notable - and notorious - feature is the remarkable number of pubs in the town. Legend says there are 52 pubs and bars in Aberystwyth; certainly, there's quite a choice.

Get in

By train

'Aber' is at the end of the line, in many senses of the phrase. Direct trains run from Birmingham New Street. 2 hours from Shrewsbury, 3 from Birmingham.

By car

There are two main routes to Aber by road: the A44 comes from the East, and the A487 goes North to South through the town. The best way to actually get there from any particular point is a subject of much debate. Buy a map and have fun. Minimum 3 hours from Birmingham, 2 hours 30 mins from Cardiff, 1 hour 30 mins from Swansea - highly dependent on the number of tractors on the roads.

By bus

TrawsCambria X40 links Aberystwyth to Carmarthen hourly Monday to Saturday, with two journeys extended to Swansea and Cardiff. The X32 is its northern equivalent, providing a link to such exciting places as Machynlleth, Dolgellau and Bangor every two hours. Traveline: 0870 608 2608.

Daily National Express 420 service to/from Birmingham and London Victoria.

By air

Aber International Airport is confidently expected by 2010. Presently, Swansea is the nearest airport, light aircraft only. Birmingham International is most useful for Aberystwyth - it's one change of train and about 3 hours 30 mins away.

Get around

Aber is a very compact town; walking is by far the easiest way to get around.

If you require motorised transport, taxis are plentiful and relatively cheap.

Buses also run up Penglais hill (where the main University campus is) and to Llanbadarn Fawr (the other campus, and the Safeway supermarket - largest of its ilk locally).

Parking is a problem in the centre of Aber, but a Park and Ride operates from Park Avenue, with a free bus service every 15 minutes Monday to Saturday.

See

• The best thing to see in Aber is probably the sunset! The view over Cardigan Bay on a summer's evening can be quite stunning. The best places to see the sunset are the long seafront Promenade (see also: Drink), any of the beaches that takes your fancy, and the University plaza (and the Arts Centre cafe located above it).

• The ruins of the Castle, overlooking the bay, is pleasant enough to wander through during the day - there are also picnic tables scattered around the war memorial that shares the space. Don't go venturing there at night, though - the castle is used by less savoury persons after dark...

• The other 'sight' in Aber (and another fine vantage point for sunsets) is Constitution Hill, accessible by funicular railway in season, and a brisk 15 minute walk up to the summit all year round. The views are tremendous, and there is a small museum and Camera Obscura, as well as the obligatory tea shop, at the top.

• The National Library of Wales, (from town, take the Penglais Road the A487 toward Machynlleth up Penglais Hill; turn right at the post box right after the entrance to Bronglais Hospital; the library is at the end of a 400 meter drive overlooking the town.), +44 (0)1970 632 800 (fax: +44 (0)1970 615 709). Reading rooms and Entrance Hall Exhibition Area open M-F 9:30 AM-6 PM, Sa 9:30 AM-5 PM; Gregynog Exhibition Gallery, Peniarth Gallery, The World of the Book open M-Sa 10 AM-5 PM.The National Library of Wales is one of the six legal deposit libraries in the British Isles and has a collection of more than four million printed volumes. In addition, it has collections concentrating in Welsh and other Celtic cultures. The Entrance Hall Exhibition Area and Gregynog Gallery feature regular exhibits -- primarily of work by Welsh artists. The Peniarth Gallery and World of the Book feature changing thematic exhibits of items from the library's collections. As of early 2005, the Library's excellent permanent exhibition, The Nation's Treasures, is closed due to ongoing construction work. Free. http://www.llgc.org.uk

Do

A good place to start is the Tourist Information office on

• The main pastime in Aber, at least for its student population, is drinking. There are many fine public houses in the town, and many grotty ones, too. See 'Drink' for more details.

• If walking's your thing, then the countryside around Aber is beautiful. A popular walk is to Borth, a few miles up the coast, and blessed with wonderful beaches.

• Watersports are another popular activity, but it's probably advisable to take part in organised outings as far as these go. The Irish Sea is famous for its undertow, and most years at least one foolhardy person gets sucked out to sea - usually after a drinking session.

• There are also boat trips out into Cardigan Bay, where dolphins can be seen in the waters, and seals on the islands. These are seasonal, so check at the Tourist Information office for latest times and prices.

Stay Safe

Aberystwyth is one of the safest places it is possible to think of. The crime rate is very low, especially compared to big cities, although Friday and Saturday bnights can be a bit boisterous during the summer. In my experience, though, Aberystwyth is one of the few places left in Britain where an unlocked door doesn't guarantee burglary.

External links

• Aberystwyth wiki (http://aberwiki.org)
• http://www.gigaflop.demon.co.uk/aber.htm
• http://www.aberystwyth.com/
• http://www.aberystwyth.org.uk
• http://www.aberystwyth-today.co.uk/

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