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Wales Coast Awrds - Blue Flag 2024

Quieter than the town's North Beach, Aberystwyth's Seaside Award South Beach is sandwiched between the town's castle and the harbour breakwater. It is a gently sloping sand and shingle beach which catches the sun for most of the day.

The southern end of the beach, by the 'harbour trap' is a favourite spot for experienced surfers, and is a great spot for spotting dolphins and porpoises. 

The beach can be accessed via a concrete slipway opposite the end of South Marine Terrace, or there are steps between the slipway and the breakwater at Castle Point, and two more flights of steps between the slipway and the breakwater at the south end of the beach.

The large sweep of the pebbled Tanybwlch beach is to the south of the harbour at Aberystwyth.  It is overlooked by the imposing Iron Age hill fort, Pen Dinas with its prominent memorial in the shape of an upturned canon that commemorates Wellington's victory at the battle of Waterloo in 1815. Pen Dinas and neighbouring Tanybwlch beach have been a local nature reserve since 1999.

A climb up to the top of Pen Dinas on a pleasant day is very rewarding - you can see for miles inland along both the Ystwyth and Rheidol river valleys, as well as out to sea.

Aberystwyth shops and other attractions include the Cliff Railway and Camera Obscura, Ceredigion Museum, Aberystyth castle ruins and the National Library of Wales, is a short walk away. Aberystwyth is an excellent base for both coastal and inland walking.

The town is the starting point for two combined walking and cycling trails, the 34km Ystwyth Trail and the 28km Rheidol cycleway. Some sections of the former are suitable for wheelchair users. A stunning coastal walk from National Trust owned ex monastic grange at Mynachdy'r Graig runs alongside scenic Cardigan Bay giving fine views of Cardigan island and Bardsey island, the Llyn Peninsular and Snowdon to the north.

Dog restrictions apply on Aberystwyth South Beach  May to end September. Dogs allowed on Tanybwlch Beach

Toilets, refreshments, parking.

Lifeguard service provided: Daily July – September | Patrol times 10am-6pm

Aberystwyth LIfeboat Station was established in 1861 and was the first station ever to have an inshore lifeboat. The station has received 13 awards for gallantry.