Lampeter and local interest
Lampeter is a traditional small Welsh market town, surrounding the handsome buildings of the university. It has a fine selection of shops, the like of which are no longer to be found in most high streets.
There is an excellent variety of good eating places, free car parking, and easy, level access to the shops.
The county of Ceredigion is one of the jewels of Wales, with a wonderful diversity of scenery from mountain to coastline, including much of historical and wildlife interest. It also makes a convenient base for exploring further afield in Wales, whether north to Snowdonia, east to the borders, or south to the Brecon Beacons or Pembrokeshire.
Why not build a short holiday break in the area around a visit to Calico Kate and the adjacent Jen Jones Welsh Quilt Centre? There is much else of interest in the district: see below for a few ideas.
Where to stay - Bed & Breakfast and Self-catering
Caer Cadwgan Bed & Breakfast: An 8½ acre working smallholding situated in Cellan, three miles from Lampeter. Three ensuite rooms, converted from the old single story stone barn adjacent to the main house
Lanlas Farm Holiday Cottages in Cellan, near Lampeter
Nantgwynfaen Organic Farm: Bed & Breakfast and farm shop: specialists in local and organic food.
Teifi Riverbank, Glas y Dorlan: Bed and Breakfast on the banks of the River Teifi near Llanfair Clydogau, less than three miles from Lampeter.
Local interest
Aberaeron: a unique and beautiful, small Georgian town, formerly an important seaport, and celebrating its 200th anniversary in 2007.
Abergwesyn pass: drive the "mountain
road" from Tregaron, through magnificent wild scenery, past Llyn Brianne,
towards Builth Wells. The Elan valley route, between Rhayader and Cwmystwyth is
an equally wonderful drive.
Aberystwyth
Arts Centre: an excellent arts centre, set within the University campus,
with fine views over Cardigan Bay.
tel. 01970 623232
Cae
Hir Gardens, Cribyn: Sitting comfortably in a beautiful wider landscape,
this six acre garden is the inspiration and work of one enthusiastic Dutchman and now his son and daughter! Cae Hir also provides the wonderful setting for the annual Quilts in Cae Hir Gardens exhibition, details on their website.
tel. 01570 470839
Ceredigion Coast Path (unofficial page): a wonderful long-distance (96km, 60 mile) coast path along Cardigan Bay, running from the River Dyfi to the Teifi. It is dotted with attractive villages and there are excellent opportunities for watching wildlife, both on land and at sea. There are many possibilities for fine shorter coastal walks, described on the web-site.
Ceredigion Museum, Terrace Road, Aberystwyth:
excellent local museum, full of information about the county, and with frequent
special exhibitions.
tel. 01970 633088
Cors Caron - Tregaron Bog:
this 'raised bog' is a wetland site of international importance, and a
National Nature Reserve. There is an easy walk along the disused
track-bed of the Carmarthen to Aberystwyth railway, and now also a
splendid board walk leading to a hide, shown right.
Denmark Farm Conservation Centre: a 40 acre nature reserve, just 4 miles from Lampeter and open to the public for walks and nature activities. We offer a range of natural craft workshops, including up-cycling, needle-felting, willow weaving, textile weaving, pyrography and more. We also offer self-catering holiday accommodation and a seasonal Eco Campsite. If you love nature then you'll love Denmark Farm!
Dolaucothi gold mines: first worked by the Romans,
and intermittently until the 1930s; now run by the National Trust.
tel. 01545 570200
Kite Centre, Tregaron: much information on our
local speciality, the red kite, and other birds of local interest, as well as
some local history.
tel. 01974 298977
Llanerchaeron, Ciliau Aeron, near Aberaeron: a
gentleman's residence, designed by Nash, and recently restored by the National
Trust.
tel. 01545 570200
Pantyfod Gardens, near Llanddewi Brefi, Tregaron: Established over the past three decades on a hillside above the Teifi valley, this 3.5 acre garden is full of interest, with extensive woodland plantings, open areas and natural ponds and bog garden. Spectacular views over the mid-Wales landscape. Refreshments, including home-made artisan pizzas, cooked in an outdoor, wood-fired pizza oven, available by prior arrangement.
01570 400564
Rhiannon, Tregaron: Jewellery in Welsh gold and other
metals, from Welsh designers, and much else including maps and Welsh interest
books.
tel. 01974 298415
Strata Florida: the remains of a fine Cistercian abbey, set in splendid scenery in the Cambrian mountains, also the starting point for a bracing walk round the Teifi lakes.
Vale of Rheidol Railway: a narrow-gauge steam railway over 100 years old, running through wonderful scenery from Aberystwyth to the spectacular waterfalls of Devil's Bridge/Pontarfynach.tel. 01970 625819