Aberystwyth

Aberystwyth sits on a sweeping arc of Cardigan Bay, with a Victorian promenade, two town beaches, a ruined castle on the headland and a cliff railway climbing Constitution Hill above the seafront. Behind the coast there is a university, a national library and an arts centre that together give the town a cultural weight unusual for a place of its size.

Getting here is straightforward. The Cambrian Line runs from Birmingham and Shrewsbury, bringing the train directly onto the seafront. Once you arrive, almost everything in the centre is walkable — the promenade, the pier, the castle, the station and the main streets are all within a short distance of each other.

The town rewards different kinds of visit: a day trip from the Midlands on the train, a long weekend with time for the Vale of Rheidol Railway and Devil's Bridge, or a slower stay with walks along the coast towards Borth and Ynyslas.

Aberystwyth works best when understood as more than a seaside resort. It is a coastal university town, a rail destination, a cultural centre and — for those who want it — a quiet base for exploring the hills and rivers of Ceredigion.