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A five-day loop through Wales's wild western seaboard: clifftop drives, resident bottlenose dolphins, Georgian harbour towns, and inland moors famed for the red kite.
RoutebookCeredigion is one of Wales's best-kept secrets: a county of rugged cliffs, hidden coves, and sweeping Cardigan Bay. This loop from Aberystwyth traces the entire Ceredigion coast south to Cardigan before swinging inland through the Teifi Valley to the remote moorland town of Tregaron. The return leg climbs through the wooded Ystwyth Valley to Devil's Bridge, where three ancient stone bridges straddle a 91-metre waterfall. Throughout, the route balances coast with countryside, offering wildlife encounters, medieval heritage, and genuinely Welsh character without the crowds of the national parks.
Best time: May to September
3 overnight bases · 2 day trips · 2 stops on the way
Day trips from Aberystwyth
On the way
Activity
Bottlenose Dolphins from New Quay Harbour
Over 300 resident bottlenose dolphins live in Cardigan Bay. From June to October, they are regularly seen from New Quay's harbour wall for free. SeaMor Dolphin Watching runs daily boat trips for closer encounters.
Viewpoint
Devil's Bridge Falls and Jacob's Ladder
The Mynach River falls 91 metres into a wooded gorge beneath three stacked ancient bridges. Jacob's Ladder trail descends 100 stone steps to the valley floor, the best vantage point for the full height of the falls.
Food & drink
Harbourmaster Hotel, Aberaeron
One of Wales's most celebrated harbour restaurants, occupying a bright-blue Georgian building on Aberaeron's inner quay. Fresh fish, Welsh lamb, and a good local wine list. Book weeks ahead in summer.
Activity
Cors Caron National Nature Reserve
An 800-hectare raised peat bog on the edge of Tregaron, one of the finest lowland nature reserves in Wales. Red kites and hen harriers hunt overhead; otters are present year-round in the Teifi and Camddwr rivers.
Scenic Drive
The A487 Ceredigion Clifftop Coast Road
The main coast road between Aberystwyth and Cardigan sits atop cliffs for much of its length, offering wide views across Cardigan Bay towards the Llyn Peninsula and, on clear days, the mountains of Snowdonia.
Culture
Aberystwyth Castle and Constitution Hill
The 13th-century castle ruins occupy a headland between two beaches. Constitution Hill, reached by the cliff railway, hosts the world's largest camera obscura with views stretching up to 60 miles on a clear day.
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