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bikepackinguk · 1 year ago

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Day Eighty

It's another day!

The eye of Storm Betty has rolled up the coast in the night, but I've been very well sheltered in a nice little forest, and the rain forecast to last through until noon hasn't materialised.

However, the winds are still swirling round and are now gusting up from the southwest up to 40mph.

So it's up and at 'em this morning for a nice blustery start with a roll across Afon Dysynni and down to Tywyn to top up on water for the day.

Out from Tywyn, it's up the hill and southward on the A493 to head round to the pretty town of Aberdyfi at the mouth of the broad River Dyfi.

There's no bridge or ferry here, so it's time for a long ride inland as the road follows the course of the river, running along the cliffsides as it runs along the south edge of Eryri National Park.

After being treated to aome good views across the river, I finally reach Dyfi Bridge and turn aouth to head past Machynlleth, and on to the busy A487 as it runs back along the other aide of the river towards the coast once more.

It's a ride through a lot of wooded areas here which, whilst not amazing for views, does offer a little protection from the gale swirling around overhead.

I get to duck off the A road at Tre'r-ddol to atrike back out to the coast proper at Ynyslas. The road out heads across the plains by the estuary and whilst there's a nice glimpse back at Aberdyfi, the wind is now able to blast solidly across the landscape and it's head down for a ways here.

The road heads straight along the coastal defenses past Morfa Borth, with the wind causing big white crests along the top of the waves.

Continuing south, there's a big hill to tackle with multiple 25% gradient warning signs, but not much to do except alog upwards. Cresting the top gives a superb view back up the coast from where I've been so far today.

The south side of the hill is a gentler descent and gives a good few miles of easy coasting through nice country lanes to head down to Clarach, before veering back up over the hills again.

The steep hill requires a serious hairpin in the road as it grinds upwards, but after aome tough work the road runs down to connect with the A487 at the outskirts of Aberystwyth.

A nice zoom downhill here and a short meander through town brings me back to the coast proper once more, with the strong winds blowing in from the sea worth enduring for a nice sit to watch the waves crash in.

I head back through town along some of the nice cycle pathing here to atop off at a supermarket for a resupply, and then have a good sit to write this up.

This wind has been quite something for the last couple of days! With the low pressure zone finally passing further north they should start to ease up a little, but in the meantime it's been quite some work to slog away with auch a headwind, so I'm calling time on today to allow a good long sit on a comfy bench and will find a spot on the outskirts of Aberystwyth to settle for the night.

TTFN!

#bikepacking #bicycle touring #wild camping #Cycling The Coast Of Great Britain

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erasmusinaber · 5 years ago

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Local Aber Guide by ESN

A következő kisokost az ESN society egyik tagja írta össze nekünk, aki már 4 éve itt tanul, így nagyon jól ismeri a várost. Ezt szoktam én is böngészni,amikor új helyszíneket szeretnék felfedezni:

“Cafes.

- Agnellis

For anyone fancying an authentic taste of Italy this place is just a little hidden away around the corner from Starbucks but is run by a local Italian family for reasonable prices.

- Ultracomida

Great for its Spanish food, delicatessen and fresh orange juice it makes a particularly great place to visit as a larger group. Just up the street from the pier.

- The Carlton

Much more British on the spectrum and a staple of Aberystwyth, head here for a great pie or some fresh Welsh cakes and coffee. Hidden above retail shops on the main main street opposite Cafe Nero.

- Sophie's

Very local and popular but more American in food choice, makes for a great breakfast choice.

- Caesars Cafe

About as good as it gets for an English breakfast, simple but effective for a Sunday breakfast after a heavy weekend, if that's your style.

- Treehouse

A favourite for those more environmentally and organically conscious. Simple but tasty food and a brilliant locally sourced delicatessen to match. Just off the high street next to Alfred's Place Church.

- PD's Diner

Unmissable on the promenade but you have to be lucky with the weather, on a nice day half the town will be there for fish and chips with a cider.

Restaurants.

- Little Italy

Perhaps less authentic but one of the most established places in the town and where every couple young and old will head for Valentine's day. Great food, a little expensive in other words. Right on the high street but more towards the University side.

- Pysgoty

Again on the expensive side but famous for its fish the country over with an intimate and pretty environment, great for a special occasion such as visiting family. On the marina above the sailing club.

- Fusion King

Very popular for students due to its value for money and about the best Aber will offer as Asian food goes, doesn't replace a good ramen for me but good food in it's own right. Just off the highstreet around the corner from ultracomida. (If you are craving more Japanese then Swshi is a new company doing sushi deliveries in the area, you can find them on Facebook).

- Baravin

Awesome setting on the seafront, a blend of Welsh food in a French style, offers a range of usually solid choices though expensive

.- Upstairs at the PierClue is in the name for location.

Pier are one of our sponsors so your attendance really helps us once we get the member cards up and running. Great food, great views and the price is reasonable.

- Backyard Barbecue

Hidden away just off the highstreet next to Treehouse but a hidden gem. I can't think of where you'd find another authentic American smoker in Wales and the price isn't bad at all. Try the ribs.

- Le Figaro

Opposite the train station and another stable of Aber with a regularly changing menu bit again maybe a little expensive for a student budget.

- Medina

Excellent more middle eastern style food that makes a healthy choice but has a lot more going for it than that, highly enjoyable atmosphere.

Places to drink

- Rummers

Aber famously has the most pubs per capita in Europe and this is one of its kings. Decent price, great beer, great pub quiz every week and live music on weekends, good eating option and cocktail bar upstairs. About everything you want from a pub. Nestled by the bridge that leads to the marina.

- Harry's

The undisputed champion of sports bars in Aber which is where you'll want to be heading for the upcoming rugby world cup if you know what's happening or not, the atmosphere will be crazy. Right opposite Little Italy.

- Scholar's

Not uncommon to find the occasional lecturer dotted around here, a great place for an affordable Sunday roast dinner while watching football. Just around the corner from Harry's.

- The Cambrian

Very student centred pub, the cocktails are like none you'll find anywhere else and very effective

- The Libertine

Best cocktails in Aber and prices reflecting that but if you want to be served an excellent daquiri then head here.

- Ship and Castle

Quintessentially British which is a good thing as pubs go and a good selection of beer and ale, again a bit expensive.

- Weatherspoons

A chain pub but again a classic of Britain and nicely located in the train station, extremely cheap, you'll probably end up there in freshers week as will everyone.

- The Glengower

Longstanding member of Aber society and regularly makes the lists of best pubs in Wales. Top draft selection, some great annual events and traditions, the terrace is always full on a nice day

- Academy

On that bridging point between a pub and a club, atmosphere can vary and it can be a bit on the pricier side but forever a cool venue as a converted church.

- Bar 46

Again on that 'plub' level, 2 for 1 cocktails always tempting and they can do well with their events, personally I love to go just for a pint while I hang out with the owners Labrador.

- Harleys

Last of the plubs, good place to warm up your dance moves before hitting the clubs, very popular with the fresher faced students.

- Downies

...psychological studies could be written about this place, shamelessly cheap and can have one of the strongest atmospheres but I don't think it's changed since the early 80's, I'll be nice and say 'rough around the edges' but for those who can get past that it can have a strange charm

- Why Not

One of the main nightclubs though still often referred to as 'Yokos'. it's going through changes at the moment so I guess you'll be as much of a judge on how it'll be as I will this year.

- Pier Pressure

The other main club and with a late hours pub downstairs, very quaint and with good DJ sets recently as a small town goes so fingers crossed that continues. Pros are more space, cons are no drinks on the dance floor.

Places to visit

- Constitution Hill

Its like a requirement to walk up it at least once though taking the old funicular railway is cool too, nice views of the town, good little cafe on top. Worth a visit once or twice.

- Borth Zoo

Not about to blow your mind and it's going through massive overhauls but if you want to see animals then hop on a train and you'll be there in 10 minutes.

- The Rheidol Railway to Devil's Bridge

The train is a bit pricey but it's very much worth doing to go and see the ancient bridges that have some very nice places to eat and relax around them. You'll be able to see eagles swoop through the trees as you ride the old steam train up the valley.

- Llanerchaeron

An old manor house and farm designed by the same guy who designed Buckingham palace. You can get the T1 service bus down there and walk back to Aberaeron which is itself a lovely town before you catch the bus back again.

- Ynyslas Beach

A train ride and then a bit of a trek but if you want a nice beach nearby then this is your choice, follow the estuary up for some great views too.

- The Pier

Nice and close, the arcade can always be fun and the pool hall sinks a lot of hours on rainy days for those interested in billiards.

- The National Library

Genuinely a really cool building with millions of books, some very interesting like ancient copies of the Magna Carta and the Mabinogion for those interested in British and Welsh culture. If you have any Welsh ancestry then this is the place to check records too.

- The Pwllheli Line

This would be a mental test in dealing with Welsh infrastructure but catching the train to Dovey Junction and then changing onto the northern line takes you to some interesting places. Barmouth for its beautiful town and estuary, Harlech for its famous castle, and Porthmadog/Portmeirion for its postcard perfect houses. Far more than that on the way too if you like a good hike or a camping trip.

- Cardiff

Great city for a weekend visit and now free weekend buses that go nicely if you have one of our membership cards for discounts on hostels. Highlights are Cardiff Castle, the Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay, the wild selection of shopping choice and the massive variety of annual events. Most of the centre is all within walking distance which makes things very easy for visitors.

- Pembrokeshire

Can be difficult to access due to little infrastructure but absolutely worth the effort. Stunning natural beauty in places like Mwnt, Barafundle, Fishguard, Pembroke Castle, Angle, Tenby and more. If you like hikes then Wales is the only country with a complete coastal path and this is the place to make use of that.”

#aberystwyth

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mimichootings · 6 years ago

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Ceredigion coastal path, between Borth and Aberystwyth

#photography #landscape photography #coastal landscape #coastline #wales #ceredigion #borth #aberystwyth

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musicblogwales · 2 years ago

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[INTERVIEW] Heddlu Releases ‘Cantref’ Debut Album Via ‘Zawn Records’

We caught up with Rhodri Daniel aka ‘Heddlu’ who’s debut album ‘Cantref’ is released this week! ‘Cantref’ is a surging collection of electronic indie anthems that were influenced by Hearing loss, Welsh Coastline Pilgrimages and Welsh Tales and Folklore.

Hello Heddlu / Rhodri how are you today?

7/10. Which is pretty good overall? Feel glad I’m finally releasing the debut album for Heddlu this week, not sure what the hell this record is, but to release music, is a ‘release’ in itself in a way isn’t it? I can let go of it now and move on to write something new, you can’t take it back and change/edit it, unless you’re Kanye West.

Your debut album ‘Cantref’ drops at the end of July, can you tell us what was the main ethos of the album is?

It’s a concept album of sorts about a young man washed out to sea and trapped in a sunken underwater mythological city called;Cantref Gwaelod;. Based on an old Celtic mythological tale that we all learnt in West Wales as children, it basically chronicles my ongoing battle with sever hearing problems after touring for years in loud rock bands through my 20s. SO DEEP.

How did you go about recording the ‘Cantref’ album, explain some of the processes.

I wrote the album in my head whilst walking the entirety of the Wales coastal path, inspired by the places I visited. I still had no idea how to record the songs, until by chance I met an old retired engineer outside an abandoned recording studio in west Wales, he lent me some synths and drum machines and I went to recording it. Then the obsession and catastrophizing ensued.

What do you miss most about playing live?

Being in a room playing music with friends, an audience is a plus (if they’re into it), but ultimately there’s nothing that beats connecting with good people over good music. I hope my hearing will cover in time so that I get to do it again �

Are there any songs off your album ‘Cantref’ that stand out as personal favorites, and why?

The instrumental ones, where I don’t sing and there aren’t any drums. This is mostly because I don’t love my own voice, and despite Adam Thomas of ‘Exit International’ and ‘Estrons’, doing an A+ job in the drums - mixing drums is quite hard and I tried my best OK.

How have you evolved as a songwriter over the last few years?

Given I can’t play live or in a room with other people at the moment due to my hearing, I’ve been recording and writing a lot on machines and in the computer. This has allowed me expand my songwriting capabilities, and an enhance understanding of production and engineering was opened my horizons in what is possible. Trying to scream louder than blaring cymbals and guitars tends to limit your songwriting palate compared to endless possibilities with computers, much as I hate them.

Are there any bands/artists that you rate / appreciate recently?

Since getting into electronic music due to my hearing being so bad that even playing acoustic guitars or unplugged electric guitars was too loud and painful, I had to learn how to use synthesizers. I’ve really gotten into ambient and atmospheric soundsmiths like Burial, Boards of Canada, Caribou as well as pioneering Welsh electronic artists like R Seiliog, Accu and Kelly Lee Owens.

Which music venue would you consider as Home and why?

The Cooper Arms, Coops, Aberystwyth. A classic West-Wales right of passage for all musicians. I can still smell the room where my first live gig ever happened. I’ve had some incredible gigs in there, as well

as absolute shockers that I’m glad no-one was there to see.

What is the kindest thing you’ve witnessed whilst being in Heddlu?

My beautiful and understanding partner Megan, putting up with me spending way too much time in my dungeon obsessively worrying about things like the mixing on the drums, I did my best OK.

Stream ‘Cantref’ Album Here: https://orcd.co/cantref

#HEDDLU #Cantref #ZawnRecords

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h-dyer · 6 years ago

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Sunday was a lovely day trip out with SSAGO. Walking along the coastal path from Aber to Borth, where there was plenty of animals to see. To top that off with a trip to see Josh Widdecombe for an evening of laughter! #aberystwyth #Borth #SSAGO #hike #coast (at Borth Wild Animal Kingdom) https://www.instagram.com/p/BotJ3yAn8C8/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=5gh9ivfyqjcx

#aberystwyth #borth #ssago #hike #coast

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jason-armstrong · 7 years ago

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Some amazing views today again, the Welsh Coastal Path never fails to take your breath away at times. These were from #aberaeron towards #aberystwyth . We covered just under 13 miles, burning calories and looking at these views, the best #Cardio and doesn't cost a penny. (at Llanon, Ceredigion, United Kingdom)

#aberaeron #cardio #aberystwyth

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judgeredward · 7 years ago

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Time Sink

For many, the idea of the countryside can mean many things. It may well mean the smell of the sea in the distance, the occasional chirp of a bird in the early morning, or perhaps the simple ways in which someone would live their lives. There was little to no complications of the city, and there was never that sense of not knowing who the person next to you on the bus was. For many, this kind of idea may well prove terrifying, but for some, the idea of finally fitting into somewhere that they would recognise a stranger out on the street was quite the exciting new prospect.

This was especially true of the new student of the coastal town of Aberystwyth, a young man by the name of William Rivers. Someone who had spent his whole life in Cardiff, he now found himself, alongside his family, travelling upward through the middle of Wales and passing through the small town of Aberaeron. A coastal town like the university he was heading towards, William and his family had stopped in Aberaeron mostly to kill some time before continuing on north. After having parked up, he jumped out of the car and saw his father leave his own, with his mother soon appearing on the other side.

“Christ, it’s freezing!” said William’s mother, casting her eyes one way to the other in an attempt to see everything. Her arms rubbed back and forth along one another, barely helping herself to warm up from the rather brisk breeze coming up from the sea.

“Well, it is the sea,” said her husband, pulling out a jacket from the back seat of his car. “Why’d you think half of William’s stuff is winter stuff?”

William himself was pretty quiet generally, and not one to speak out loud all that much. Some likened him to a ghost, as if appearing out of nowhere almost constantly, when in truth he had been there for some time. He just didn’t like talking. His eyes travelled upward and past him, following as a seagull flew past him and cawing in its flight. It went past the car park and then upward over the green hills, presumably over a bunch of fields that lay beyond the top. It was only a call from his mother to join them that William was snapped out of his daydream, and quickly caught up with the pair.

The first thing that William had noticed as they left the car park was the smell of salt in the air. Then as the young man continued to observe and walking through the town, he noticed the number of small boats that were situated inside what looked like an old harbour. The harbour itself felt as if it was down at the very bottom of the town, which was almost true. With a bridge road nearby, it looked as if the bridge was the edge of town, and that that road led further south into Wales. That very bridge was where William and his parents now stood, looking out over the harbour and the river behind them, joining up onto the water of the harbour. William could tell by the slightly crumbled walls and large stone architecture that was dotted about the place that the harbour and, in turn the town itself, was remarkably old. Even the church that they had walked past, with its greyish-brown brickwork and old, dulled glass windows, screamed to William that he was walking in a really old, and really boring, seaside town.

Out of curiosity later in the day, William had taken it to himself to gander online about the town and the port, and found that his assumptions were correct. The harbour itself used to be an old port, and in fact one of the more important ones throughout Wales and during its prime of trading. While it hadn’t been as busy as Port Talbot to the south of the country, it was a fundamental port in the Welsh industry.

“Do you know much about this place?” asked William’s mother then, directing her question to her husband. William’s father shook his head in response, but did have his phone out and was beginning to take pictures of the many seaside views he could get from the town.

“It is pretty though,” he answered. “And really old looking.”

“Seems like the harbour’s still being used,” William said then, pointing out towards the numerous ships that were anchored down at the bottom of the town. “Although if there’s any fishing business around here is beyond me.”

His mother and father walked down a small path, taking caution to take their steps slowly as to not fall on the wet mud underfoot, before they came up onto a wooden bridge. This bridge extended over the water, joining up onto a concrete walkway where a couple more boats were anchored and roped up. William however remained at the foot of the bridge, looking out back to the stone bridge and the river underneath. He watched as a small child spat down from the bridge down to the water, and with a slightly amused smirk his eyes followed the white bubbles as it flowed down the current, then down underneath the wooden bridge and out of sight. He looked back up to the bridge and chuckled when he saw that same child was being scolded by his mother for presumably spitting into the river. Then, as if to spite the mother, William leaned over the side of the bridge and spat down himself. The saliva splashed down with a resounding thunk, before it flowed down into the rest of the water in the harbour.

Eventually, William caught his parents up, who were both looking down past the edge of the concrete walkway. He approached them from the side, then looked down to see what on earth was giving them such an incredible interest. “…what on earth is that?” William questioned then, genuinely sounding confused. “Is that a van converted into a boat?”

That question was answered with a shocked gasp and a shushing by his mother, but William had pretty much hit the nail on the head in regards to the boat’s looks. To say it looked like a sorry state of a boat would have been putting it generously, what with how tattered and peeled the blue paint of the boat was like. The floorboards of the boat, which barely reached three metres in length, were almost rotten and riddled with holes, and what wasn’t peeled away, the blue was patched with other white splotches that William himself would rather not have to repeat out loud.

“Well, whatever it is,” William’s father said, his arm resting around his wife’s waist and with an amused grin on his lips, “it is, without a doubt, a rather horrible fishing boat.”

“Don’t say that!” William’s mother looked remarkably annoyed with her husband’s remark, as if she was ashamed he had even said such a thing.

“Mam, it’s got a bloody rowing boat behind it,” William added dejectedly, his hand moving to the side to emphasise that the tiny blue boat did indeed have a rowing boat behind it, somehow even smaller than the one in front, and looking just as shabby and dreadful as its bigger brother. “It’s crap, let’s be honest here.”

His mother was going to argue once more, but even she could not disagree on the awful state the pair of boats were in. Her raised hand slumped down to her side, and a small moan of defeat came from her that made both William and the father wink at the other in victory.

It was at that moment that a small growl sounded from William’s stomach. He looked down in slight confusion, then sighed upon realising that he was indeed rather hungry. Seemingly his father heard the growl as well, for his head quickly began going back and forth. “What’re you looking for?” William asked, just as he began staring out into the harbour and sniffing the strong scent of salt in the air.

“Some place to eat,” his father answered. “I wouldn’t mind something quick and simple.”

“Why, how long do we have left ’til we need to shoot off?”

His father looked down at the large metal watch on his left wrist to check. “Er… about another hour. Ish.”

William pointed off towards a large building behind them at that. “How about that one?” he asked then.

The building itself was situated on the corner of the concrete walkway, where it joined back up with the main road that would go on to lead back towards the stone bridge, and then back into the town the other way. Although there was a rather large open covering with the building’s name placed on the front in white, ‘The Cellar’, the most obvious and striking aspect of the building was indeed its colour.

“It’s… well. It’s certainly bright,” said William’s mother.

“It’s pink, dear,” William’s father added. “Bright is one way to put it…”

It was indeed very pink, and white as well, but for the most part the whole building was a sickly colour of pink. But it was either that building or the nearby chip shop that sold ‘honey ice cream’, and William felt more in the mood for something warm than cold. So with that in mind, the three walked inside of the small pub, and was greeted rather politely by a middle-aged man dressed in black trousers and shirt, with the logo on his breast pocket. It seemed pretty quiet inside, with only an old couple in the back and two twenty-something year old males sitting opposite each other.

The interior itself was pretty simple, with dark brown polished floorboards and around fifteen tables situated throughout the small restaurant (as it so claimed on the banner outside), with each seat already with its own set of cutlery. William doubted that the place itself got a whole lot of business, but at least the way the building and the staff treated its customers were pleasant enough.

William and his family sat themselves down, going through the menu that had been handed to them and quickly chose out their individual meals. While waiting, William’s mind and eyes wandered, staring back out through the nearby window and then out into the harbour beyond. He could see the building that was selling the ‘honey ice cream’ on the other side of the harbour, and could not help but smirk a little as a result.

“You ever tried honey ice cream?” he heard being asked then. He realised the question was being sounded by one of the two males he had seen sitting down as he walked into the restaurant.

“No, mate,” answered the other man. “Sounds bloody awful.”

“‘Honey ice cream. It tastes as bad as the town itself feels like.’”

“Another line to add?” asked the other male. “Why did we even come here for a research project again?”

“It was either this or Borth,” answered the first.

“…fair point.”

William’s mother seemed to have heard the conversation behind her and was obviously rather disapproving by the two men’s words. “They don’t like honey ice cream?” she asked out loud, perhaps a little louder than she should have. “What is wrong with people these days?”

William hung his head down in embarrassment as his parents launched into a pathetically stupid discussion about ice cream and talking about which flavour was the best, and had continued to argue about it when their meals had arrived. By the time the three had finished their food, they were the only ones left in the restaurant. His father went off to the bar to go and pay for the meal, leaving his mother and himself to pull on their jackets once more. Soon enough, they had gone off back towards the harbour, then up through the town and on to the car park.

In a nutshell, the town was relatively quaint and simple, or at least that was how William described it later when he was asked by friends. However, it felt so much like any other seaside town that it just didn’t seem even remotely special or exciting. But at least the people were creative. They had to be, otherwise a boat made from a van would never have stuck in William’s head all that time.

#judger's writing #writing #long post #my writing #prose

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