Archive for August, 2011
Aberystwyth Mid Wales Top 6 Places To Visit
If you are visiting Aberystwyth this year you should make time to visit some of the local attractions. There are far too many places to visit in Aberystwyth to list here but The Vale of Rheidol Railway Aberystwyth Castle The Electric cliff railway Clarach Bay Y Consti Restaurant amp; The Camera Obscura are among the top 6 family attractions that should not be missed.
Vale of Rheidol Railway
This is such a wonderful experience that our family have been twice on this spectacular steam engine ride through the Welsh countryside. This beautiful steam railway line was built in 1902 to transport lead from the Rheidol Valley mines to Aberystwyth harbour. This little steam engine railway line takes the most wonderful scenic route through the Rheidol Valley during an 11 mile journey.
At the end of the journey is Devils Bridge which is another spectacular attraction in its own right. The train stops for one hour allowing you to view Devils Bridge before taking you back to Aberystwyth. Devils Bridge consists of three bridges on top of each other over the Rheidol River. Legend has it that the lower Bridge was built by the devil to allow a woman to collect a lost cow. In return for building the bridge the Devil made a condition that he would collect the soul of the next living creature to cross the bridge. Consequently the Devil fully expected to collect the soul of this woman in return for her cow. However the woman outwitted the devil by sending a dog across the bridge before her.
You can also visit the Mynach Falls where the Mynach River drops 300 feet to meet the Rheidol River producing a spectacular waterfall. There is a small caf for refreshments and a gift shop. Trains leave from the terminus next to the mainline railway station in Aberystwyth. Rheidol Valley Railway was British rails last steam railway line before being sold in 1989. It is now operated amp; maintained by the Phyllis Rampton Narrow Gauge Railway Trust which is a registered charity.
Aberystwyth Castle
Aberystwyth Castle was once ranked among one of the greatest castles in Wales and no trip to Aberystwyth would be complete without a visit to this iconic building. Aberystwyth Flint Rhuddlan and Builth castles were all built by King Edward 1 during the 13th century in order to control and rule over the Welsh. However Aberystwyth Castle is now a collection of ruins but it is still a very imposing group of buildings which are well worth a visit.
The remains consist of the inner and middle walls but the outer wall is now gone. Its current state of ruin is in part because it was blown up in 1649 and then its stone was used as material for other buildings. However there is still plenty to see and plenty of history left to explore. Inside the castle walls is the Bardic Circle consisting of 13 stones erected during the 1916 Eisteddfod. Each stone represents one of the pre1974 counties of Wales. A very beautiful and imposing war memorial was erected in 1919 and the panoramic views of Aberystwyth Bay from the memorial are breathtaking.
It is a great family outing as the parents can look around the castle while the children can be kept occupied with the childrens playground picnic areas putting green and crazy golf course. You can then take a walk along the beautiful Victorian promenade from the Castle. At the end of the promenade is Constitutional Hill where you will find the famous Electric Cliff Railway tucked into the mountain.
Electric cliff railway
A trip up the electric railway to the top of Constitutional Hill should be at the top of your list of things to do when visiting Aberystwyth. It is the longest electrical cliff railway in the UK and has been running since 1896. The railway was designed by the liberal peer George Croydon Marks and was originally operated through a water balance system which was changed to electric in 1921.
The electric Railway takes the quaint wooden railway carriages to the top of Constitutional Hill at 4 mph. This may seem slow but you would not want to go any quicker or you would not be able to appreciate the breathtaking panoramic views of the surrounding sea and countryside. Children and adults alike enjoy the slow climb up to Constitutional Hill.
As you approach the top of Constitutional Hill if the weather is clear you can see 26 mountain peaks across the length of Wales. When you get to the top of Constitutional Hill it has one of the most spectacular natural viewpoints I have ever seen. Miles and miles of beautiful natural unspoiled coastline and natural cliff top footpaths. You can look back down and see Aberystwyth Castle in all its glory pointing out to sea and on the other side you can look down into the beautiful Clarach Bay beach.
Clarach Bay
Clarach beach has been awarded the Marine Conservations highest award for water quality and is a popular site for fishing. It also has the coveted Green Coast Award for rural beaches. This award is designed to recognize those beaches with European Blue Flag water quality whose management reflects their rural unspoilt nature. The criteria are intended to ensure that such beaches can receive recognition without the need for inappropriate development which would spoil their natural beauty and risk damage to wildlife. Clarach Bay Beach is a natural unspoiled shingle beach. It is a wonderful explorers beach for children filled with rock pools caves to explore and mountain walks. You can take the mountain cliff path from the beach and walk for miles across the footpath to the small seaside village of Borth. Along the way there are some of the most beautiful panoramic views of the coastline and it is extremely peaceful walk. There are no nearby houses or roads so there is no traffic noise just the sound of the sheep the birds and the sea. You can also take the mountain footpath in the other direction and walk up to the top of Constitutional Hill.
Y Consti Restaurant
In April 2005 the famous Y Consti restaurant opened right at the top of constitutional Hill. Y Consti restaurant is a replica of the original summerhouse tea rooms Caf and the building was funded by a European objective 1 grant. The restaurant has breathtaking panoramic views of the sea and cliff tops.
Camera Obscura
The Camera Obscura is situated next to the Y Consti restaurant and is the recreation of a popular Victorian attraction. It was opened in 1985 and is now becoming quite a prominent tourist attraction. Camera Obscura is the Latin term for veiled chamber. It is an optical device that was used by the Victorians for making detailed drawings or as in this case for entertainment. It is one of the Victorian phenomenons that led up to the invention of the camera. Light passes through a lens in the roof of the camera obscura which is then projected onto a large white surface within the room. The outside scene is perfectly reproduced in colour upside down. In the Victorian era images from camera obscuras were also projected onto paper which when traced produced highly accurate drawings.
Aberystwyths Camera Obscura is the largest in the world and it is possible to see clearly 1000 square miles of sea and coastline through its massive 14 inch lens. Our children took great delight in spying on people in Aberystwyth and being able to see what they were doing as clearly as if they were standing next to them. If you are lucky you might be able to look out to sea and spot a few dolphins.
There were also many other activities for children on Constitutional Hill including ball games Frisbee and a beautiful gift shop. If you are feeling energetic you can take a walk along the beautiful coastal path down into Clarach Bay. If you dont feel able to climb back up to Constitutional Hill you can take the bus back into Aberystwyth.
After visiting Y Consti Restaurant and the Camera Obscure you can take the Electric Cliff Railway back down into Aberystwyth town. You never have to wait very long for a train as they leave every few minutes seven days week in the peak season. Even during the winter season the Electric Railway is open five days a week from Wednesday to Sunday.
These are just a few of many of the attractions for tourists in Aberystwyth. However staying in a hotel or bed amp; breakfast can be a little expensive so my advice would be to stay in one of the many caravan sites on the outskirts of the town. There are two caravan parks right next to Clarach Bay and both are just a few minutes walk from the beach. Glan Y Mor Caravan Park is an excellent site but if you dont fancy staying in a caravan you can also rent Chalets at Clarach Bay holiday Village for a very reasonable rate. Both caravan parks are very well maintained cheaper and I think much better than staying in a hotel as you have direct access to the award winning Clarach Bay Beach from your caravan or chalet.
You can walk along the scenic cliff path up to constitutional Hill from Clarach Bay Beach and visit the Y Consti restaurant and the Camera Obscura and then go down into Aberystwyth via the Electric Cliff Railway enjoying the beautiful scenery as you descend down into Aberystwyth Town. There is so much to do and see in Aberystwyth one visit is never enough. Do you have a favourite tourist attraction in Aberystwyth? If so please leave your comments for others to see
About the writer:nbsp;nbsp;To see more places to visit inAberystwyth or book a Chalet on Clarach Bay Holiday Village please visitClarach Bay Holiday Village Aberystwyth to book a caravan holiday on Glan YMor Caravan Park please visitGlan Y Mor Caravan Park Clarach Bay Aberystwyth
World Travel Tours Unravel The Serene Sites
World tour is always associated with fun and excitement as there is a plethora of picturesque sites that can be unraveled during the world tours. You can simply cherish all those beautiful moments that you will spend in the lap of Mother Nature during these visits. Be it Switzerland Italy Rome or China all are blessed with serene beauty that mesmerize the senses in an exotic way.
But what if you do not have any information about whereabouts of places that must be visited? What if you miss out prominent attractions that are a must visit? And what if somebody misguides you during your world tour and you end up just repenting? All these questions seem quite natural when one visits to world cities so it is better to take the assistance of vacation tour operators that will guide you at every step so as to make your trip a rocking experience for lifetime.
World travel tour becomes really a blessing when one takes the help of vacation tour operators as their services are designed to give you comfort and pleasure during your vacationing. Be it airline booking hotel reservation cab services mascot selection visa availability or currency exchange vacation tour operators are specialized in catering to the customers with all of them in the most effective manner.
The best part of obtaining their services is that they make your entire world travel tour hassle free. Once you pay them money they take care of all the chores and you are left with no tensions about the upcoming trip. In other words your world travel tour becomes a splendid experience.
The vacation tour operators even help you in making last minute variations in the airline booking. This seems impossible when you have to do it on your own but when this duty falls upon the vacation tour operators; they manage the entire operations in an efficient way.
Even if you are not willing to carry cash along with you vacation travel tour also provides the facilities of banking so that you do not come across any kind of hassle. So use their services and explore the beauties of world in a better way.
About the writer: Myself webmaster of http://www.tourtravelportal.info/ which is a tour travel directory that provide all information about the travelling tour package and vacation tour operators
What To Do In Ottawa Ontario
If you get a chance to visit Ontario you will want to visit Ottawa as there are many Ottawa events that take place throughout the year featuring cultural exhibitions fairs and entertainment. In some cases you may have to pay for admission while others are free of charge. Ottawa is full of culture and you can experience it all when you attend one of these events.
International Astronomy Day
Every May you can celebrate national Astronomy Day which takes place on May 2nd. This is an annual event that allows you and your family to explore the wonders of the universe as well as celebrate the beginnings of astronomy. This event is located at the Canada Science and Technology Museum in downtown Ottawa. There is a small admission fee to enjoy this event. In addition to learning about astronomy you can also enjoy a party afterwards at the museum.
Canadian Tulip Festival
Spring means the budding of tulips throughout Canada and the rest of North America. The official flower in Ottawa is the tulip and the last weekend in April through the second weekend in May features the annual Tulip Festival that takes place at various locations throughout Ottawa. The Ottawa Parkway Park features a fair with vendors selling crafts and foods during the last weekend of the festival. If you enjoy these beautiful flowers that hail the coming of spring then you will enjoy this festival that is free of charge.
Energy Days
Energy Days is a relatively new annual event in Canada and is fun as well as educational. It takes place during the month of May every year at the Canada Science and Technology Museum. The event displays alternate types of energy including electric cars on display. If you are interested in learning about energy and alternate means you will enjoy this fascinating annual event that is in its third year in Ottawa.
National Capital Race Weekend
The National Capital Race is the oldest marathon in Canada and is held each year usually the first Saturday in June although it is weather permitting. This event not only includes a 10K run but also a family fun run and walk. There is also a wheelchair marathon. The event is open to anyone who wants to participate and there are cash prizes for the winners. Whether you want to race or just get some good exercise this is an ideal event.
National Children Festival
This is an annual event that showcases young people and their talents. Young dancers artists and other performers from around Canada as well as the world take place in this event that is held the last weekend of May of every year at the Lebretron Flats Park in downtown Ottawa. This is an ideal event for young audiences as they watch their peers perform.
Carnival of Cultures
This annual carnival celebrates the wide range of cultures that are part of Ottawa. There is an admission for the carnival that has performing arts as well as other entertainment food and artisans from all cultures that comprise Ottawa. This event takes place at the Astrolabe Theater during the second weekend of June of each year.
About the writer: Joe Deacon loves to travel and Ottawa Ontario events are some of his favorite mustsee happenings. Go to Eventsetter.com and see a schedule of Ottawa events running at the time of your visit.