Ceredigion Coast Path

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

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

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

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:

Whilst a long-distance path in its own right, it is linked at both ends as part of the Wales Coast Path. At its southern end, via the old bridge over the River Teifi in Cardigan, the nearest crossing point to the coast, it meets the Pembrokeshire Coast Path National Trail at St Dogmaels.

Access

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

  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!." 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'". Retrieved 2 November 2014.
  7. ↑ "Ceredigion Council cancels Cardi Bach bus service". BBC. 15 September 2014. Retrieved 2 November 2014.

External links

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

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