Aber Info

A brief guide to some of the surrounding suburbs, villages and other areas.

Glanyrafon

Not a suburb or village, but the larger of Aberystwyth's industrial estates. Quite a few people work here. It's located on the western edge of Llanbadarn Fawr.

Llanbadarn Fawr

Situated at the junction of the A44 and A4120 roads about a mile west of the town is this village. Not officially part of Aberystwyth, although it is now essentially a suburb of the town.

At the centre of the village is a small square with shops, the church and two pubs. Llanbadarn Community Council's boundaries (a community council is the Welsh equivalent of an English parish council) include the Welsh-language primary and secondary schools, Ysgol Gymraeg and Ysgol Penweddig respectively; Plascrug Leisure Centre and a small industrial estate. They also reach out far enough to include the University's Llanbadarn Campus and the local further education college, Coleg Ceredigion, the small science park on Primrose Hill and also the retail park at Parc-y-Llyn.

Parc y Llyn

This is the area that has changed most in recent years. The flood plain of the River Rheidol has seen extensive devlopment following the building of the Eastern Approach Road.

The initial development consisted of a Safeway supermarket and petrol station (opened November 1995), Great Mills (now Focus), Carpetright, Halfords, Currys and MFI Homeworks.

Further development has come in stages with more shops, a hotel, a McDonald's, the Ystwyth Medical Centre and two large housing estates.

Penparcau

First Avenue, Penparcau.

Penparcau is home to a significant proportion of the people who live in Aberystwyth - after Aberystwyth itself it is Ceredigion's largest settlement. Located on the A487 road on the way into town from the South, Penparcau reaches up the side of Pendinas hill and also down towards the Rheidol Valley.

Most of the houses date from the first half of the twentieth century, and most were originally council-built. Along the main road you will find some small shops and offices, including two fish and chip shops, a post office, a Spar shop and a Co-op Welcome store.

Southgate

Small cluster of houses with a hotel, church and hall, situated at the opposite end of Penparcau to the town.

Trefechan

Small cluster of houses, plus a pub, local shop and a pet shop sandwiched between Penparcau and the town on the A487. Also the place from which you can reach Tan y Bwlch beach (the beach south of the harbour) and Aberystwyth's small marina.

Waunfawr

Waunfawr is perched right at the top of the hill overlooking the town, backing on to the university campus. Along the main road there are a few older buildings, but Waunfawr is mostly made up of sprawling developments from the 1960s and 1970s. Waunfawr is also home to the area's largest school, Penglais, which is the local English-language secondary school.

	Erw Goch Typical of the houses on the "Waun".
	Main Road At the northern end, showing the Co-op. Penglais is further back from this spot on the left.

There is a fish and chip shop, a Co-op supermarket with post office and a Spar shop. The shops are particularly convenient for students living in the nearby Pentre Jane Morgan (Jane Morgan Village) and Trefloyne, Rosser and Cwrt Mawr halls of residence.

Names in Aberystwyth Town

"Bank Square"

The name Ceredigion County Council seemed to think we all used for the top end of North Parade. Except that nobody does. Evidently madly phobic of the name 'North Parade', Ceredigion are getting their own back by imposing the rather arbitrary name 'Owain Glyndwr Square'. Not a popular move.

Buarth Mawr or "The Buarth"

The hill on which the School of Art is situated, to the east of the rail and bus stations.

Penglais

The big hill which is home to the main university campus and the hospital. Gives its name to Penglais Nature Park and Penglais School in Waunfawr.

The Prom

The seafront or 'promenade', officially known as Marine Terrace, Victoria Terrace and South Marine Terrace.

Tan y Bwlch

The beach to the south of the harbour and river Ystwyth.

"Top of Town"

Unsurprisingly, at the top of Great Darkgate Street, by the town clock.