I am travelling to Wales ataying in Bangor and Aberyswyth at the end of June. Any opinions on those two areas greatly appreciated. Does anyone have a good real ale pub they can recomend?

Bangor is a dump but luckily has lovely countryside all around.Don't stay in Bangor though -if you search Wales you should find some recommendations as to where to stay in the area .Aberystwyth is an old fashioned type sea side resort with lots of accomodation and again lovely surrounding rural area.<BR>Both are on railway lines but Bangor has far more trains than Aber.<BR>Can't help with the real ale but what are your specific interests?

A friend was living in Aberyswyth a few years ago when a woman was mugged, which doesn't happen very often in those parts. The headline of the article describing the attack in the local paper? "Aberyswyth: Just Like the Bronx". For my money, you can't go wrong in a place like that.

Its probably not wise to generalize from my limited two week experience in Wales, but I left with the impression that real ale is not as important or as prevalent in Wales as in England. The Good Pub Guide lists the Halfway Inn, near Aberystwyth, which serves Felinfoel Double Dragon (which became my favourite at the Farmer's Arms in St. David's).

Re: The message above. Why is Bangor a dump?' My daughter is hoping to go to university there in a years time and everything I've heard is the opposite so I am interested in the unvarnished truth please.<BR><BR>Thank you

I think there is a lot of difference between visiting somewhere on holiday and asking advice about that and going to live in a city to study.Following from that can I say that Bangor is a popular university town and things that would bother you as a tourist no longer figure in those circumstances.Strangely enough it doesn't seem to make any difference whether the student comes from a rural community or city.<BR>The city itself straddles a hill with most of the Arts buildings in Upper Bangor and many of the sciences in the bottom part.The University had an award for the hall of residence with the best view in Britain!That it is a complete eyesore planted as it is overlooking the Menai Straits seems unimportant.....<BR>Pleasr accept then that my comments were in response to a query on a travel forum.<BR>So whats wrong with it?Well its run down, the High street seems to have more cheap and charity shops than other towns of the same size.It has a large drugs problem but that is in common with everywhere else in Wales as far as I can see.The city does not have an extensive choice of Hotels (or restaurants in the bottom part of the city )but as your daughter will tell you there are many pubs and I defy her not to find one or twenty that suit her!<BR>As I said in my earlier posting the area itself is not to be missed and I imagine you will enjoy many visits here over the undergraduate three years.Please contact me direct if you want any more info-good luck with the A levels!

Bangor is really quite interesting if you take the time to really walk around and investigate. And the countryside is just lovely..perfect for picnics.

Aberystwyth IMHO is more Welsh than Bangor. You are likely to hear a lot of Welsh spoken on the streets. It's a traditional seaside resort in the summer. If you are lucky you will see a school of porpoises playing in the bay.<BR>If you like walking there is some wonderful scenery in the area.<BR>For pubs in Aberystwyth, have a look at the pubs and clubs section of the University's "alternative prospectus" at http://www.aber.ac.uk/publications/brochures/alternative/out4.html<BR>I expect that Bangor University has a similar guide.

I was at College in Aber and still return frequently- it's a small town rather dominated by the University with a pier, a Victorian seafront lined with hotels and surrounded by glorious scenery. Take the small train to Devils Bridge or drive up to the Estuary at Ynylas. Plynlimon is the highest peak in mid-Wales.<BR>Bangor is also a pleasant enough small town overlooking the Menai Straits with the magnificient bridge over to the island of Anglesey.

If I had to choose, I'd go to Bangor.<BR><BR>It's closer to the hub of the heartland of North Wales.<BR><BR>Aberystwyth, as a town, is fine, but Bangor, as a base, offers far more choice.<BR><BR>Bangor is certainly less remote than Aberystwyth. <BR><BR>Bangor is no dump either ! Of course it has no major attraction like a huge castle, or quaint streets, and has suffered at the hands of architectural concrete blunders, but it does have a pretty cathedral, and the old University building high on the hill dominates the city. The shopping isn't that bad either. It did go through a phase of having several empty shop units but they've been filled, and there have even more bars and clubs opened recently.<BR><BR>Bangor ain't beautiful, but it's brilliant place !

Oh, and regarding real ale, The Castle (Hogshead) is always a good pub to discover the benefits of beer !

Thanks for all you replies. We are erring on the side of Bangor at the moment. They really present the university and the town well. We have seen several university promotional videos and Bangor's is definitely the most sophisticated.<BR>

Can anyone offer recent information about visiting Bangor as a tourist? I was looking to go for a weekend, but can't seem to find many positive reviews or options for B&amp;Bs/hotel. Thanks!

Can't offer any help re accommodation as we always self-cater, but can confirm opinions posted above that Bangor is a dump. What are your reasons for choosing there?

Thanks for your confirmation - I was just looking for someplace new to check out. Doesn't seem like Bangor is the place to pick though.

I would really disagree that Bangor is a dump. It's a thriving University city which provides excellent restaurants and bars, shopping outlets and essential amenieties. It's a great central hub.

As for it being somewhere quaint to stay in a B&amp;B then I would recommend looking outside the city for somewhere more suitable.

Self-catering is a popular option. Many cottages do weekend breaks. They are mostly in rural locations that gives an authentic Welshness to your vacation.

Not quite sure how the universities fit in here, but the university at Aberystwyth is better.

&quot;Bangor is certainly less remote than Aberystwyth&quot; ? Depends where you're coming from. I've passed through Aberystwyth many times but only have a vague idea of where Bangor is.

The Good Pub Guide is mainly about 'quaint' pubs which appeal to middle-Englanders. For real ale you want the Good Beer Guide which is published by CAMRA (Campaign for Real Ale).