Ceredigion Coast Path

Long-distance footpath following the coast of Ceredigion, Wales

Cardigan

Ynyslas

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Ceredigion Coast Path has eleven sections

The beach at Mwnt The beach at Aberporth Tresaith from the coast path View over Llangrannog New Quay from the coast path Approach to Ynyslas beach

The Ceredigion Coast Path (Welsh: Llwybr Arfordir Ceredigion) is a waymarked long distance footpath in the United Kingdom, on the coast of Ceredigion, Wales. It is 65 miles (105 km) in length, running along the coast of Cardigan Bay from Cardigan (52°04′52″N 4°39′39″W﻿ / ﻿52.0810°N 4.6608°W﻿ / 52.0810; -4.6608﻿ (Ceredigion Coast Path, southern end)) to Ynyslas (52°31′38″N 4°02′58″W﻿ / ﻿52.5271°N 4.0495°W﻿ / 52.5271; -4.0495﻿ (Ceredigion Coast Path, northern end)).

The path forms one section of the Wales Coast Path, an 870-mile (1,400 km) long-distance walking route around the whole coast of Wales from Chepstow to Queensferry, opened in 2012.[1]

## Background

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The Ceredigion Coast Path project was funded under the EU's Objective 1 programme for West Wales and the Valleys. There were previously existing lengthy public rights of way along the coastline, but the scheme allowed for these to be linked together – by creating new public access routes – to make a continuous route. The path was opened throughout in July 2008.

## Description

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The coast path runs along the Welsh Heritage Coast from Cardigan northwards along Cardigan Bay to Ynyslas near (Borth), a little to the north of Aberystwyth. The official start, in Cardigan, is the bronze otter next to the bridge on the northern bank of the River Teifi.(SN177458) The end is at the Ynyslas war memorial.(SN609940)[2]

The path crosses a variety of landscapes, such as the dune system at Ynyslas, high cliffs, storm beaches, sandy bays and sea caves. The path passes through small villages and some well-known tourist resorts and offers a close insight into this stretch of coast, recently officially opened up to walkers via this route, some parts of which are still under development.

There are four sections that are designated as Heritage Coast, and two areas within Cardigan Bay are marine Special Areas of Conservation because of their importance for wildlife.[3] This section of coastline is renowned for bottlenose dolphins, grey seals and porpoises.

## Ceredigion Coast Path sections

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The Ceredigion Coast Path can be accessed by road at a number of points, so that it can readily be split into the following eleven sections:

* Cardigan to Mwnt: 11.7 miles (18.8 km) – Note: There is a temporary route connecting Gwbert with Mwnt; the actual Ceredigion Coast Path section within that vicinity is currently unavailable because of legal proceedings.
* Mwnt to Aberporth: 5.3 miles (8.5 km)
* Aberporth to Tresaith: 1.5 miles (2.4 km)
* Tresaith to Penbryn: 1.6 miles (2.6 km)
* Penbryn to Llangrannog: 1.7 miles (2.7 km)
* Llangrannog to Cwmtydu: 5.5 miles (8.9 km)
* Cwmtydu to New Quay: 3.8 miles (6.1 km)
* New Quay to Aberaeron: 6.5 miles (10.5 km)
* Aberaeron to Llanrhystud: 7.4 miles (11.9 km)
* Llanrhystud to Aberystwyth: 10.6 miles (17.1 km)
* Aberystwyth to Borth (Ynyslas): 9.9 miles (15.9 km)

Whilst a long-distance path in its own right, it is linked at both ends as part of the Wales Coast Path. It meets the Pembrokeshire Coast Path National Trail at St Dogmaels after crossing the tidal stretch of the River Teifi via the old bridge in Cardigan.

## Access

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Although the Ceredigion Coast Path is a long-distance path, it can easily be split into smaller sections. Some of the sections are challenging, given the undulating nature of the path, but some of the flatter sections are quite suitable for walkers of lesser or limited ability. Recently, for instance, work completed between Aberporth and Tresaith has re-routed the path to avoid steps. Also, the Aberporth Inclusive Access Cliff Top Trail is a 1-kilometre (0.6 mi) high-quality surfaced path built to wheelchair gradient standards.[4]

Many of the coastal villages and towns were visited by the Cardi Bach bus service run between Cardigan and New Quay, particularly aimed at walkers. Introduced in 2004, it initially carried 1,000 passengers a year and only ran in the summer. This figure had risen to 4,600 by 2010.[5] As a result of this success, the service was extended to operate all year round (six days a week over the summer and three days a week at other times) from 2012 until September 2014, with funding from the Rural Development Plan.[6] Funding ended in September 2014 and the service closed.[7]

The northern part of the Ceredigion Coast Path, at Borth and Aberystwyth, can be accessed by train on the Cambrian Line.

## References

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1. ^ "All-Wales Coast Path Nears Completion". BBC News Wales. BBC. 17 October 2011. Retrieved 2 January 2012.
2. ^ Allan, Liz (2009). Walking the Ceredigion Coast Path: From Cardigan to Borth. Machynlleth: Kittiwake Press.
3. ^ "Ceredigion's Coast Path Awaits You! Archived 27 April 2016 at the Wayback Machine." Ceredigion Coast Path. Ceredigion County Council. Retrieved 5 January 2012.
4. ^ "Inclusive Access". Ceredigion Coast Path. Ceredigion County Council. Retrieved 4 January 2012.
5. ^ "Ceredigion's Cardi Bach Bus Service Extended". BBC. 14 June 2011. Retrieved 2 November 2014.
6. ^ "Ceredigion County Council - The 'Cardi Bach'". Archived from the original on 2 November 2014. Retrieved 2 November 2014.
7. ^ "Ceredigion Council cancels Cardi Bach bus service". BBC. 15 September 2014. Retrieved 2 November 2014.

## External links

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Map all coordinates using OpenStreetMap

Download coordinates as:

* KML
* GPX (all coordinates)
* GPX (primary coordinates)
* GPX (secondary coordinates)

* The Official Guide to the Ceredigion Coast Path Archived 27 April 2016 at the Wayback Machine

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Long-distance footpaths and National Trails in Wales

Coastal|

* Anglesey Coastal Path
* Ceredigion Coast Path
* Gower and Swansea Bay Coast Path
* Llŷn Coastal Path
* North Wales Path
* North Wales Pilgrims Way
* Pembrokeshire Coast Path
* South Wales Coast and Severn Estuary Coastal Path
* Wales Coast Path

Non-coastal|

* The Beacons Way
* Cambrian Way
* Celtic Way
* Cistercian Way
* Clwydian Way
* Dyfi Valley Way
* Glyndŵr's Way
* Heart of Wales Line Trail
* Landsker Borderlands Trail
* Marches Way
* The Maelor Way
* Monnow Valley Walk
* Offa's Dyke Path
* Rhymney Valley Ridgeway Walk
* Snowdonia Slate Trail
* Snowdonia Way
* Taff Trail
* Usk Valley Walk
* Valeways Millennium Heritage Trail
* Wye Valley Walk

* v
* t
* e

Coastal paths of Great Britain

England|

* King Charles III England Coast Path
* Bournemouth Coast Path
* Cleveland Way
* Cumbria Coastal Way
* Isle of Wight Coastal Path
* Lancashire Coastal Way
* Norfolk Coast Path
* Northumberland Coast Path
* Saxon Shore Way
* Solent Way
* South West Coast Path
* Suffolk Coast Path
* West Somerset Coast Path

Scotland|

* Scottish Coastal Way
* Arran Coastal Way
* Ayrshire Coastal Path
* Berwickshire Coastal Path
* Fife Coastal Path
* John Muir Way
* John o' Groats Trail
* Moray Coast Trail
* West Island Way

Wales|

* Wales Coast Path
* Anglesey Coastal Path
* Ceredigion Coast Path
* Llŷn Coastal Path
* Millennium Coastal Path
* North Wales Path
* North Wales Pilgrims Way
* Pembrokeshire Coast Path

52°14′52″N 4°15′21″W﻿ / ﻿52.2477°N 4.2557°W﻿ / 52.2477; -4.2557
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