stevelyon

We are on a walking holiday in Pembrokeshire in June. The journey down from Manchester, I believe, is about four hours but this should be fun. As I have not done a lot of Wales I see it as an opportunity to visit some interesting beach areas en route. I wondered about Aberystwyth for a stop and lunch... or somewhere else?

BritishCaicos

Steve

Be careful about the time you travel. At peak time the A55 is terrible, it can take 4 hours to get to Conway.

Shell Island beach is great, just south of Barmouth. Dolphins come close in quite frequently.

stevelyon

Thanks for the advice BritishCaicos. Barmouth looks interesting and has plenty of places for lunch but it may be on the wrong side... it looks like I would have to go to Barmouth and then come back on myself unless I can get across the estuary via a bridge.

tahl

The A487 from Machynlleth on down is chock full of great places to stop. North to south . . .

- Mach itself is a good-sized, fairly funky town, the site of Owain Glyndŵr's Parliament. You will go right through the center of town, and stopping would be simple. BTW, the road from Machynlleth to Aber is quite windy.

- Aberystwyth is bigger (and prone to traffic issues...not sure what the current parking situation is). You can't go wrong with a stroll along the Promenade on a nice day:
http://www.discoverceredigion.co.uk/...orthBeach.aspx

- Aberaeron is a famous beauty-spot of a town, with a very un-Welsh planned central square and a pretty harbor.
http://www.discoverceredigion.co.uk/...Aberaeron.aspx

- Tresaith is a tiny village off the A487 with very little in it except a beach with a waterfall falling onto it and a fantastic pub (The Ship (Y Llong)) with a big terrace overlooking the beach. Oh, the happy hours I've spent there.
http://www.shiptresaith.co.uk/

- Cardigan (Aberteifi, in Welsh) is maybe my favorite town in Wales, with a lively central street (parking is in lots off to the side).
http://www.cardigan-wales.co.uk/

stevelyon

Thank you so much tahl. Both Aberaeron and Tresaith look very pretty. The Ship Inn looks really nice but maybe a little too near our eventual destination, however, Aberaeron may be the place to stop.

tahl

Aberaeron's pretty.

Just for fun, here's a song called Aberaeron from popular Welsh pop singer Fflur Dafydd (her name is pronounced Fleer DA-vihth (dd = hard th, like 'the')). The video shows the lyrics in both Welsh & English.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JCIgPXfnelE

stevelyon

Just to let you know we dropped off in Aberaeron - but on the way back. We had a fabulous time and when I can get up to speed with work I intend to do a short trip report on a wonderful week in Pembrokeshire. Thank you for all your help.

ESW

Aberaeron would be the nicest place. From Manchester use the motorway to head for Chester. Then pick up A483 through Wrexham, Oswestry, Welshpool, Newtown and then A470 to Llangurgig.

If you like walking, take the A4120 at Ponterwyd as this takes you to Devil's Bridge and the waterfall walks.
http://www.devilsbridgefalls.co.uk/
These are some of the best short walks we have done with stunning scenery.

Then continue on A4120 to Aberystwyth and then pick up A487 down the coast to Aberaeron.

Check out the route details on AA route planner.
http://www.theaa.com/route-planner/index.jsp

janisj

ESW: >>Aberaeron would be the nicest place. From Manchester use the motorway to head for Chester. Then pick up A483 through Wrexham, Oswestry, Welshpool, Newtown and then A470 to Llangurgig. <<

They are home already . . .

tahl

Stevelyon, thanks for letting us know that you enjoyed Aberaeron! I'll look forward to reading your Pembrokeshire trip report.