The Cambrian Mountains
and the coastal resorts of Cardigan Bay are highlights of
mid-Wales.
Aberystwyth
A university town midway round Cardigan Bay, and a resort.
It is the base for tours to Devil's Bridge Waterfalls, one of Britain's
most notable beauty spots, linked to the town by the Vale of Rheidol
steam railway. There are two other railways close by; the Tal-y-Llyn
Railway, which runs for about 10km or 16 miles from Abergynolwyn
through beautiful countryside to Tywyn; and the Fairbourne Railway
connecting Fairbourne with the Barmouth Ferry. Aberystwyth
has Britain's longest electric cliff railway, and the Ceredigion
Local History Museum.
Machynlleth
Celtica is a major attraction here, focusing on Wales' Celtic
heritage, while boat trips and spectacular showcaves feature at
King Arthur's Labyrinth. The town also is home to the Centre
for Alternative Technology, which highlights environmental issues
and sustainable energy use; Senedd-Dy Owain Glyndwr (the
15th-century Welsh parliament building) and the Y Tabernael gallery
of modern art.
Welshpool
To the east, near the English border, this is an attractive town
with Georgian buildings and the Welshpool and Llanfair
narrow-gauge railway. The Andrew Logan Museum of Sculpture
is popular, as are boat trips on the Montgomery Canal. South
of the town is the Powis Castle, built in the 13th century
and modernised 300 years later.
Elsewhere
Cardigan, at the southern end of Cardigan Bay (Bae Ceredigion)
is a nice market town, and an ideal starting point for exploring
western parts of Mid-Wales. Along the bay there are small resort
towns and villages, rocky coves and beaches.
Barmouth
was once the most popular resorts in the British Isles, frequented
by such luminaries as Darwin and Tennyson. There are
good beaches, in the town and near Dyffryn Ardudwy to the
north.
Inland towns of interest include Builth Wells, an important cattle-trading
town; Strata Florida Abbey; Lampeter and Tregaron
on the River Teifi, and Llandrindod Wells, Wales' famed spa
resort in the late 18th and early 19th centuries.
On the northern tip of Cardigan Bay is Harlech, is famous
for both its castle which overlooks the peaks of Snowdonia,
and for the song, 'Men of Harlech', referring to the 15th-century
defence of the castle. South of Harlech is Llanbedr, a popular yachting
area. |
