Total distance 312 miles
your tour Vale of Rheidol
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Duration 5 days
The accessible Ceredigion landscape is beautiful and has a fascinating heritage
The stunning view across Nant y Moch Dam at the Rheidol Power Station
Left North Bay presents a tranquil scene Above The 110-year-old Coliseum theatre is the unusual setting for the Ceredigion Museum, accessed via the Tourist Office
You can explore the Silver Mountain Exerience from above or below ground
Stormtrooping in
Ceredigion
Aberystwyth suffered punishing gales in 2013, but a year on David Terence found it was very much open for business
A
david terence enjoys touring in his Auto-Trail and is an experienced technical writer
fter several visits to the Gower Peninsula and the Pembrokeshire coastal path, we made a conscious decision to spend time and money in Aberystwyth, which had suffered badly during the violent storms of November 2013. Much of the town’s seawall and historic seafront were destroyed; Victorian shelters, railings and seats were uprooted by the powerful waves, while seafront hotels suffered flooding in basements. To the council’s credit there was little evidence of the trail of damage on our visit, although roofers were still busy on the buildings used as university residences at the far side of the bay. We were travelling from Alcester, in Warwickshire, having enjoyed a great weekend of sunshine at the Classic Camper Club’s National Rally, and heading for the Silver Mountain Experience off the A44, en route to Aberystwyth. Happily, there were no problems parking our motorhome, and
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it was free. From the reception and tearooms you can choose to stay above ground exploring the redundant mine or go below into the mine. The attraction has something for all ages: children can follow a nature trail discovering Woo Hoo Wood, Tangle Foot Maze and Higgle Hide along the way, before gem panning, giant puzzles and paddling in Silver River, damming and diverting the wooden channels – who cares if you get wet! There’s also a picnic area with views, and a mining exhibition. A little further on is Bwlch Nant yr Arian Forest Visitor Centre offering woodland walks, lakeside views and bird hides. Unsure if we could park with a coachbuilt we continued on, missing out on the daily feeding of Red Kites. We try to select sites for their location, be it close to attractions, ‘Park and Ride’ or a bus service into town, and so had chosen the Aberystwyth Holiday village, but sometimes this method can be a little hit and miss! What we
The town’s Ceredigion museum didn’t realise was that it was on a can be accessed via the tourist steep incline. Clearly aimed at families, office and it is so worth a visit. the site boasts a swimming pool, It’s an unusual setting for a gym, bowling, amusements, museum: beginnning life as the a well-stocked mini-market ornate Coliseum theatre of 1904, and a late take-out (or it became a cinema in the eat-in) mini restaurant. 1930s. Now, displayed over After pitching several tiers, was a wide and a cuppa, we array of artifacts from discovered there ladies’ undergarments was no alternative to kitchens, art to walking up the Ceredigion Museum to a typical steep roadway out Aberystwyth Welsh parlour. of the site before Woodlands Aberystwyth Walking along the descending towards Caravan Park Holiday Village promenade it’s hard the marina; with the Devil’s to miss the ruined return journey that’s Bridge Falls castle, war memorial a lot of ups and and views over to downs before dinner! Constitution Hill. Further Next morning we along, major work was still ventured further to the town being undertaken on flooded hotels centre and North Bay that had been and the refurbishment of roofs. so ravaged by storms. Tourist centre The energetic can walk up the staff told of the beach being thrown winding coastal path to the Camera up on to the promenade, creating Obscura; we opted for the cliff railway. rubble to a depth of several feet.
Actors make the Silver Mountain Experience less scary for youngsters Ice cream and chippies can be found throughout the town, but finding a bakery was difficult. One thing we realised was that almost everything closes at 5pm: we had only two choices for an evening meal out! the train to Devil’s Bridge Next day we took a different direction from the site, to catch the 10.30am train on the Vale of Rheidol Railway. The narrow-gauge railway, which opened in 1902, travels from Aberystwyth and Cardigan Bay, in places clinging to the mountainside, 12 miles to Devil’s Bridge. As the engine struggles on the way up, the views, mixed with belching smoke, are stunning, regardless of the
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