THC - Local Area

Ceredigion: Running along the southern arc of Cardigan Bay, the Ceredigion coast has some of the most attractive and unspoilt seascapes in Wales. It's a peaceful coastline of grassy promontories, dramatic headlands, sandy coves and picturesque harbours, all backed by traditional farming country. The largest resort is Aberystwyth, though more typical are the smaller harbours and old seafaring ports of Aberaeron, New Quay and Aberporth. Llangrannog, another attractive spot, is close to Ynys Lochtyn, a narrow promontory which spears forcefully into the waters of the bay (visitwales.com, 2002).

In contrast, the sandy cove at Mwnt (the 'jewel of Cardigan Bay') shelters under a protective headland. Much of the shoreline here is designated Heritage Coast (Ceredigion is Britain's first Marine Heritage Coast). The calm waters of Cardigan Bay are home to a rich and unusual wildlife, including harbour porpoises, grey seals and the bottlenose dolphin (Ceredigion's dolphin population is one of only two within Britain's coastal waters) (visitwales.com, 2002).

Cardigan:Contemporary Cardigan is a busy market town serving a hinterland stretching from the high hills of the Preseli mountains in the south; the Teifi Valley to the east and the small coastal villages of Ceredigion to its north (ceredigion.gov.uk, 2002).

Visitors enjoy visiting Cardigan's many friendly small shops and, of course, visiting the indoor market within the "Guildhall" (ceredigion.gov.uk 2002).

Cardigan offers excellent indoor sports and leisure facilities and quality cinema, arts and entertainment provisions on an all-year basis at Theatr Mwldan. The theatre offers a gallery area as well as a restaurant. Cardigan's Tourist Information Centre is also based at Theatr Mwldan and is open all year (ceredigion.gov.uk, 2002).