From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Coordinates: 52°14′31″N 4°15′33″W / 52.24204°N 4.25921°W / 52.24204; -4.25921

Aberaeron
Houses on the quay
Aberaeron  Aberaeron shown within Wales
Population	1,520
OS grid reference	SN458628
Principal area	Ceredigion
Ceremonial county	Dyfed
Country	Wales
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	ABERAERON
Postcode district	SA46
Dialling code	01545
Police	Dyfed-Powys
Fire	Mid and West Wales
Ambulance	Welsh
EU Parliament	Wales
UK Parliament	Ceredigion
Welsh Assembly	Ceredigion
List of places: UK • Wales • Ceredigion

Aberaeron (English: Mouth of the River Aeron) is a seaside resort town in Ceredigion, Wales. Population 1,500. Situated between Aberystwyth and Cardigan, it is home to the headquarters of Ceredigion County Council.

History and design

Aberaeron was planned and built in 1805 by the Rev. Alban Thomas Jones. It is built around the estuary of the River Aeron, which has been enlarged to provide a small half-tide harbour for recreational craft. The estuary is also crossed by a wooden pedestrian bridge.

In the late 1890s, a hand-powered cable car 'The Aeron Express' was built to ferry workers across the harbour when the bridge was demolished by floods. The structure was recreated in the late 1980s as a tourist attraction that ran until the end of summer 1994.

The architecture of Aberaeron is unusual in this part of rural Wales, being constructed around a principal square of elegant Regency style buildings grouped around the harbour. Some of the architecture was of sufficient interest to feature on British postage stamps.

Location and features

Aberaeron is located between Cardigan and Aberystwyth on the A487, at a junction with the A482 leading south-east to the university town of Lampeter.

The shoreline consists of generally steep storm beaches of pebbles, although fine sand is visible at low tide levels. Aberaeron south beach was awarded the Blue Flag rural beach award in 2005^[1].

The climate is mild and temperate, largely conditioned by the proximity of the relatively shallow sea. However, Aberaeron can suffer from occasional winter frosts when cold air descends the Aeron valley from the upland parts of Ceredigion.

The town is notable for the sale of honey and especially honey ice-cream and more recently honey mustard.

70% of Aberaeron's inhabitants are able to speak Welsh according to the 2001 census.

A life-sized statue of a Welsh cob stallion was donated to the town in 2005 by the Aberaeron Festival of Welsh Ponies and Cobs to denote the area as Welsh Cob country. It was created by sculptor David Mayer.

Dylan Thomas' links with Aberaeron, New Quay and Talsarn have been documented by local author David N Thomas^[2]. The Dylan Thomas Trail runs through Ceredigion, passing through Aberaeron and ending in New Quay^[3]

Famous residents

• Sir Geraint Evans, the renowned opera singer had a home in Aberaeron for more than 30 years
• Ron Davies OBE, photographer

Image gallery

The River Aeron	The Black Lion Hotel, on Alban Square	Harbour at low tide	Footbridge over the Aeron
Harbour and hills	Aberaeron Cottage Hospital (former workhouse)	The Feathers (former coaching inn)	Welsh cob statue
Market Street	Georgian houses	Northgate Toll House, c. 1785	Prince's Avenue

Welcome To Aberaeron

References

External links

• Official tourism website
• Website of the local Cambrian News
• Aerial photograph of Aberaeron
• www.geograph.co.uk : photos of Aberaeron and surrounding area

County of Ceredigion Principal Settlements Aberaeron, Aberystwyth, Cardigan, Lampeter, New Quay, Tregaron Towns and Villages Aberaeron · Aberarth · Aberbanc · Aberffrwd · Aberlerry · Abermagwr · Aber-meurig · Aberporth · Alltyblacca · Betws Ifan · Beulah · Blaencelyn · Borth · Bow Street · Caemorgan · Caerwedros · Capel Bangor · Capel Dewi · Ciliau Aeron · Comins Coch · Cribyn · Cwmann · Cwmystwyth · Devil's Bridge · Dre-fach Felindre · Dôl-y-bont · Eisteddfa Gurig · Eglwys Fach · Elerch · Ffostrasol · Furnace · Geneu'r Glyn · Glandyfi · Gorsgoch · Gwbert · Lampeter · Llanarth · Llanbadarn Fawr · Llanddewi Brefi · Llandre · Llandyfriog · Llandygwydd · Llandysul · Llanfarian · Llanfihangel-y-Creuddyn · Llanfihangel Ystrad · Llangeitho · Llangoedmor · Llangrannog · Llangybi  · Llangynfelyn · Llanilar · Llanon · Llanrhystud · Llansantffraed · Llanwenog · Llechryd · Lledrod · Lovesgrove · Melindwr · Mwnt · New Quay · Oakford · Penbryn · Penparc · Penparcau · Penrhyn-coch · Penuwch · Peny-y-garn · Ponterwyd · Pontrhydfendigaid · Pontrhydygroes · Pont-Siân · Rhydowen · Rhydypennau · Salem · Silian · Talgarreg · Tal-y-bont · Tirymynach · Trefeurig · Tregaron · Tresaith · Tre-Taliesin · Tre'r Ddôl · Troed y Rhiw · Troedyraur · Upper Borth · Y Faenor · Y Ferwig · Ynyslas · Ysbyty Ystwyth · Ystrad Aeron · Ystrad Meurig · Ystumtuen Universities Aberystwyth University · University of Wales, Lampeter Rivers Aeron · Arth · Brenig · Clarach · Dulas · Leri · Llyfnant · Mynach · Rheidol · Teifi · Wyre · Ystwyth Castles Aberdyfi · Aberystwyth · Cardigan · Dinerth · Lampeter Islands Ynys Aberteifi · Ynys Lochtyn

From Wikitravel

Aberaeron is a coastal town in Ceredigion, Wales.

Understand

Aberaeron is a Welsh-speaking seaside town, with multicoloured houses, a harbour and many small independent shops.

Get in

There is no train station. The nearest is in Aberystwyth, from where there are buses. By road, the main A487 runs through the town.

Get around

It's about a 20 minute drive to Aberystwyth. To the south there are good beaches at Llangrannog and Cwmtydu.

• The town and harbour. Aberaeron is well-known for its multicoloured houses and buildings. Take a stroll down the High Street and around the harbour. Look out for the local family of Bottle-nosed Dolphins out to sea.

• Aberaeron Sea Aquarium, 2 Quay Parade (Right on the harbour), ☎ 01545 570142 (fax: 01545 570160). Now Closed down  edit

• Cegin Cymru (Welsh Kitchen), 18 Market Street. Lovely little shop selling locally-produced delicacies. The farmhouse cheeses are a particular favourite.  edit

• Aeron Sports, 2 Alban Square. Fishing tackle and other sports gear  edit

Aberaeron Harbour by night

The Harbourmaster Hotel ('Gwesty'r Harbwr' in Welsh) has a superb restaurant, specialising in seafood. For a cheaper, yet tasty and substantial meal, try the New Celtic fish-and-chips restaurant (eat in or take away).

The Famous Holgate's Honey Ice Cream, from The Hive on the Quay[1]. Also holds a cafe/restaurant serving more substantial meals. Located exactly where the name implies!

• The Harbourmaster Hotel (Gwesty'r Harbwr), Pen Cei, Aberaeron, ☎ 01545 570 755, [2]. A cobalt blue small hotel with views of the sea and harbour. £80-£120 per night for bed and breakfast.  edit
• Nant Meigan (Holiday Home), Aberaeron, ☎ 07971 282007, [3]. Located in the centre of the famous seaside town of Aberaeron, West Wales, 'Nant Meigan' is a Grade 2 listed Georgian terrace holiday let, in the the centre of a historic town. A five minute walk to the pebble beach, and backing onto the river Aeron, the property enjoys a walled garden that provides privacy and tranquillity, centrally located to give you plenty of choices for enjoyable outings in West Wales and your own Welsh Holiday  edit
• Riverwalk holiday cottage, ☎ 01269 834777, [4]. Holiday cottage sleeps 6 up to £425.  edit