Things to do - Places to visit in the area around Blaengader.....................

Aberystwyth

The town of Aberystwyth is the largest town in West Wales. As well as having a wide variety of shops and a market, 'Aber' hosts the National Library and the Ceredigion Museum. Also worth visiting is the cliff railway and the Camera Obscura on Constitution Hill. Aberystwyth Castle was built by Edward I  in 1277 and is now largely ruined.
Aberystwyth Arts Centre 01970 622884 Penglais Aberystwyth - A full schedule of events
all through the year. Cinema and Café on site.

The National Library Of Wales 01970 632800 - Set high above the University Town of Aberystwyth. Open all year round for visitors.

- runs tourist trips from Aberystwyth station for 11¾ miles from Aberystwyth to Devil's Bridge. The terminus is adjacent to the national network station at Aberystwyth, and on the hour-long journey passengers have spectacular views of the wooded Rheidol Valley - views unseen for decades until the railway began its renovation programme ten years ago. AT Devil's Bridge you can view the famous '3 bridges' and take a walk through the valley to view the falls - see below.

Telephone 01970 625819

Devil's Bridge is named after a local legend from medieval times. The first bridge was built in the 11th century and the 2 more modern bridges built above it. There is a pay turnstile to view the bridges and the river gorge below it, and another on the other side of the road to walk the trail down the valley and back to view the falls.

The long trail is quite strenuous and not suitable for those who don't like long steep tracks. The scenery around Devil's Bridge is quite spectacular and the mountains in this area were the location of an important lead and silver mining operation in the 18th and 19th centuries.

In the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, Mining was economically very important in Cardiganshire. Centered on the Plynlimon Mountains inland from Aberystwyth, the mines are now all largely derelict with almost none of the buildings intact.

Anyone interested in mining could spend an interesting half day wandering about the valley. Alternatively you could visit the Llywernog mine and Museum which is open to the public and features a tour of the old mineshaft - see below

This is an authentic 18th century silver mine. A visit to Llywernog offers a fascinating insight into life nearly 200 years ago, when the mine employed over 60 people. Today, Llywernog is a fascinating and educational family adventure, and continues to be developed as a major all-weather attraction. On the A44 - 15 minutes drive from Aberystwyth . 45 minutes from Aberaeron, Machynlleth & Rhyader.

Tel: 01970 890620

Enterprise Wales' Nant yr Arian Visitor Centre will be opening in time for the Easter holidays following the results of a detailed risk assessment over foot and mouth. Visitors will be able to enjoy the spectacle of Red Kite feeding - at 3pm every day - walks in the forest and snacks in the lakeside visitor centre. Blaenmelindwr trail 5.5 miles approx 2.5 hrs. Start off at the visitor centre and follow on to enjoy the panoramic views of beautiful Ceredigion. Open daily Easter-end October: 10.00am-5.00pm (longer in summer months). Walks and picnic sites are open all year. East of Aberystwyth on the A44 near Llywernog.

Tel: 01970 890694

The house was commissioned from John Nash in 1789 by Colonel William Lewis. Nash had been made bankrupt at the age of 31, however after designing Llanerchaeron and a number of other Welsh estate houses, he went on to grander things, designing the Brighton Pavilion and Buckingham Palace.  

Tel: 01545 570200

Located off the B4340 from Aberystwyth to Trawsgoed. Black Covert Picnic Site is 1 kilometre south of Abermagwr. Turn right over the bridge (signed Llanilar B4575) then turn immediately left and left again into the car park.

Black Covert is an attractive forest plantation by the river Ystwyth, and its picnic site marks the halfway point of our route. The first half of the walk follows the Ystwyth valley downstream, with some sections by the river, and others higher up the south slope above it. It then passes Trawsgoed mansion, and through well-tended farmland overlooking the broad lower valley, before returning through the village of Llanafan, and along the valley path back to Blaen-y-ddôl.

You will see the antics of the colony of Capuchin monkeys and the lemurs. In the paddock, you will find wallabies, capybaras etc. Inside the buildings you will find reptiles, insects, bird aviaries, plus the usual children's favourites. We have an educational room, play area, picnic area, souvenir shop and cafe serving light refreshments. Daily; Easter-September: 10.00am-6.00pm; October: 11.00am-4.30pm.

Fantasy Farm Park, Llanrhystud 01974 272 285.
A great day out for the whole family situated approx 4 miles away.

New Quay  - 'Cei Newydd'

- with Its picturesque houses, pubs and restaurants clings to the sides of the hills rising above the blue waters of Cardigan Bay on the coast of West Wales. The town has narrow streets rising in terraces - between several of which were 'ropewalks' for twisting rope in New Quay's heyday as a shipbuilding centre (see: New Quay's history). The sheltered harbour and safe beaches - the focus of activity in the summer when New Quay becomes a bustling and vibrant holiday resort where sailing, fishing, watersports and relaxation, are among the main attractions.  Click on the graphic for more photos of New Quay. 

Cors Caron (Tregaron Bog)  Cors Caron is a nature reserve run by the Countryside Council for Wales. There are boardwalks across the bog. 12,000 years ago mid-Wales was in the grip of the last Ice Age. As the climate warmed, the glaciers receded and a large shallow lake occupied this valley. A huge reed bed and woodland developed, but the climate became cooler and wetter, allowing the sphagnum mosses to invade and begin the process of building three raised bogs.

Tregaron - The traditional market town of Tregaron offers a great variety of excellent walks around for you to enjoy the fantastic sceneries of Ceredigion. In Tregaron you will find:

Rhiannon Welsh Gold Centre in the main square. They have a great selection of Welsh and Celtic
products made out of Welsh Gold Tel No 01974 298415

Ceredigion has numerous beaches and the two nearest to us are only 4 miles away at Llanrhystud and Aberystwyth respectively.

Other beaches within easy driving distance include Borth, Clarach, New Quay and Llangrannog. Mwnt Beach near Cardigan is shown in the photo.