Wales
ABERYSTWYTH AND AREA
A view from Aberystwyth Promenade
Aberystwyth is a large and busy seaside town situated on the west coast of mid Wales. It has a good variety of shops and restaurants. The information centre has now produced an updated version of its list of attractions with disabled access in the area and it is worth sending for if you are considering the area for a holiday. There is a disabled toilet in Bath Street adjacent to the shopmobility office.
For accessible places to stay in the area please scroll to the bottom of the page and for a wider accommodation search for other areas of Wales and the UK click here.
The cliff railway carriage on its descent.
There is a cliff railway situated at the north end of the promenade that has adaptations for wheelchair users. The view across the bay from the carriages is magnificient, however access is still quite challenging for further details please read our researcher's report.
Examples of Welsh furniture in the museum
Above the information centre and accessed by a lift is the Ceredigion Museum, which is well worth a visit. Exhibits are housed on three floors and cover a wide variety of topics. There is a disabled toilet on the top floor. Admission is free but donations are welcomed.
Aberystwyth Arts Centre
Situated on the outskirts of the town in the university complex is the Arts Centre which has access to all floors and galleries via a lift. There is a theatre, a cafe and a shop as well as a disabled toilet. It is best to ring the centre before visiting as exhibitions displayed in the galleries may take several days to change and so might not be open.
Bwlch Nant yr Arian
Bwlch Nant Yr Arian Visitor Centre
Approximately ten miles east of Aberystwyth on the A44 is a Forest Visitor Centre where Red Kite are fed daily at 3 pm (N.B. 2pm during winter months). There is a new purpose built visitor centre with a cafe and shop as well as a designated toilet (access is limited due to floor standing bins). There is also a long viewing platform and outside eating area.
All around the perimeter of the lake there is an excellent wheelchair trail please note however that as there are several inclines on the route manual wheelchair users might find it advisable to have someone to help push. However as the views are spectacular especially of the Red Kite, it is well worth the effort.
For more detailed information about accessibility please click here
Nant-y-Moch Reservoir
A little further along the A44 in Ponterwyd there is a left hand turn signposted Nant y Moch if you turn here, it takes you along a spectacular mountain road. Eventually you come to the Nant y Moch reservoir (part of the Cwm Rheidol Hydro Electric scheme) with its glorious views. There are picnic spots around the reservoir and if you wish you can continue your journey along the mountain road down to the A487 and return to Aberystwyth.
Strata Florida Abbey
Strata Florida Abbey
Approximately 20 miles south east of Aberystwyth is the ruins of the Cistercian Abbey of Strata Florida. There is a small information centre and the ruins can be accessed via a ramp.
Rheidol Hydro Electric Power Station
Rheidol Hydro Electric Power Station Reservoir
East of Aberystwyth is the Rheidol Hydro Electric power station at Capel Bangor where conducted tours take place at regular intervals throughout the day.
Entrance to the Power Station
It is well worth a visit and the surrounding scenery of this part of the Rheidol valley is stunningly beautiful.
One of two former turbines
Just a short distance away is the visitor centre and cafe where visitors can learn more about the hydro-electric generation process through interactive exhibits and an audio/visual display.
For more detailed accessibility information about the visitor centre and the tour please click here.
The Magic of Life Butterfly House
The Magic of Life Butterfly House
Situated behind the visitor centre is the Magic of Life Butterfly House and Garden which is run by a 'not for profit' trust. The garden displays examples of nectar producing plants that will attract native butterflies and the house provides a suitable environment for up to 25 different exotic species.
A memebr of staff holding one of the beautiful passion flowers that grow in the reception area
Part of the trusts work is to promote awareness about the protection of the rainforests which are home to many of the butterflies There is level access throughout and the friendly staff will provide detailed informal talks about the plants and butterflies.
For more detailed information about accessibility please click here
Borth Animalarium
A meerkat on sentry duty
The Animalarium is located approximately 7 miles from Aberystwyth at Borth and is a small zoo that homes unwanted or abandoned pets and animals from other zoos.
A friendly and inquisitive lemur
There is wheelchair access to most areas on hard surfaced paths including the open air reptile handling sessions. Access to reception, the cafe and shop is via a ramp.
For more detailed accessibility information and a link to their own website please click here.
Ynyslas National Nature Reserve
The shell path
Approximately ten minutes drive further along the coast is Ynyslas NNR which has a short wheelchair accessible path across the dunes which in spring are carpeted with rare wild flowers.
The boardwalk
There is a visitor centre on site which is open during the summer months where rangers host a varied programme of events. A very short boardwalk also extends from the centre towards the beach but unfortunately then becomes covered with deep sand. However there is vehicular access on to the beach (charges apply) from which there are stunning sea and mountain views.
For more detailed accessibility information please click here.
The Centre for Alternative Technology
Centre for Alternative Technology
Near Machynlleth about 20 miles north of Aberystwyth is the Centre for Alternative Technology. The centre is located in a former slate quarry and whilst much of the site is fairly level there are some inclines which manual wheelchair may require assistance with.
A very unusual and attractive roofing method using old glass bottles
There is an information centre, a large shop and a wholefood restaurant providing meals as well as light snacks. There are also disabled toilet facilities and designated parking adjacent to the cliff railway from March to October. During the winter months there is parking for blue badge holders at the top of the drive.
For more detailed information about accessibility please click here
On the road between Aberystwyth and Machynlleth at Tre'r-ddol is the Clettwr cafe which serves meals all day. It has easy access and a disabled toilet.
PLACES TO STAY
Park Lodge Hotel
Park Lodge Hotel
Firstly approximately one mile from the town centre is the Park Lodge Hotel. This has two ground floor wheelchair accessible rooms (one double divan and one twin divan) with en-suite wheel-in shower rooms that are spacious enough for carers to assist if necessary and have large hand basins. The double offers left hand transfer to the toilet and the twin offers right hand transfer. There is a bed settee in the double room. Both rooms have low level clothes rails and accessible tea/coffee making facilities.
The spacious ensuite shower room
Access around the ground floor of the hotel is good including the dining area and there is a lift to conference rooms on the 1st floor.
For more detailed accessibility information and a link to their own website please click here
The Marine Hotel
The Marine Hotel
The Marine Hotel is situated opposite the Promenade in Aberystwyth. The hotel faces the sea and has excellent ramped access to the front entrance. Access around the ground floor including the dining room is level and good.
The accessible room has a great sea view
There is a designated accessible family room accessed via a good sized lift and the hotel can arrange hire of mobility equipment and/or a wheelchair should guests require it.
For more detailed accessibility information and a link to their own website please click here
The Llety Ceiro Guest House
The Llety Ceiro Guest House
The Llety Ceiro Guest House at Bow Street which is a couple of miles north of the town and owned by the same proprietors as the Marine Hotel. The Guest House was not open for the season when we visited the town and we were unable to view inside the room ourselves. A member of staff advised us of the facilities. There is a designated disabled car parking space. It has level access throughout the ground floor including the conservatory and out on to the outside decking area. There is a ground floor accessible double bedroom that has been designed for people with limited mobility. The bed has sufficient underneath clearance for a portable hoist and the tea/coffee making facilities and an electric socket accessible from a wheelchair. There is no emergency pull cord but there is a large buttoned phone near the bed. A put-u-up bed can be included for a carer if required. The large en suite shower room has a level access shower and shower chair. There is space to left hand side transfer to the toilet, grab rails and easy access to the wash basin.
For more detailed accessibility information and a link to their own website please click here
Bryncarnedd Cottages
A exterior view of some of the cottages in the complex
Bryncarnedd Country Cottages is a complex of well appointed holiday properties located approximately one mile from the town centre in Aberystwyth. Although the properties are situated in a peaceful countryside setting, the cottages benefit from being close to Aberystwyth with the all the amenities that this coastal town has to offer.
Bryncarnedd was formerly a large and busy dairy farm supplying the surrounding area with milk. Following its closure, the original farmhouse and its surrounding buildings have been sympathetically and skilfully converted into 11 separate self catering holiday cottages including a 9 bedroomed bunkhouse.
The cottage are all named after traditional farm buildings and vary in size and accessibility. They all benefit from shared grounds which include a childrens play area. Our researchers were able to visit three cottages within the complex, each of which had its own individual character and at least one ground floor room and a level access shower/wet-room.
The living area in the Barn dressed for Christmas
The Barn Cottage has 4 bedrooms and sleeps up to 9 people. It has been created with easy access in mind and in our researcher's opinion was the most accessible of the 3 cottages on site that they visited. As well as a spacious living area and an accessible kitchen there is ramped access down into a conservatory with a large dining table. The property includes a ground floor bedroom that contains a double and single bed and has its own wet-room complete with grab rails.
For more detailed accessibility information about the Barn and a link to their own website please click here.
The Galley Kitchen in the Dairy Cottage
The Dairy Cottage is a large property which could accommodate extended families or small groups. It has three ground floor bedrooms all accessed via a ramp from the dining room. Two are large family rooms with a double bed and a single bed or bunk beds and the third is a smaller twin room. This property benefits from having a ground floor bathroom as well as a level access shower room however please note there are no grabrails at present.
For more detailed accessibility information about the Dairy and a link to their own website please click here.
The Living area in the Workshop
The Workshop Cottage has 3 bedrooms and sleeps up to 9 people. There are two bedrooms (one family and one double) and a bathroom upstairs and a twin room located on the ground floor. This ground floor bedroom is wheelchair accessible and has lateral transfer (left hand) to one of the beds. The property also has a ground floor level access shower room however this does not have grabrails at present
For more detailed accessibility information about the Workshop and a link to their own website please click here.
Rheidol Cottage
Ramped access into the cottage
This cottage, which is located at Lovesgrove a short distance from Aberystwyth, is all on one level and sleeps up to 5 people.The living area comprises of a conservatory dining room leading into an open plan living/kitchen area.
Left hand lateral transfer in the bedroom
It has two bedrooms, one of which has an en-suite wet-room (no grab rails at present) and also a separate bathroom. The cottage also has a pleasant external patio area with a table and chairs.
For more detailed accessibility information and a link to their own website please click here.
Yr Hen Stablau
One of the outside eating areas at Yr Hen Stablau
Located 20 miles north of Aberystwyth, just outside of Machynlleth on the Aberdovey road is Yr Hen Stablau, a self catering (early victorian) former stables. It has been sympathetically converted to provide spacious accommodation for up to 6 guests. There is a large entrance hall, a good sized kitchen with a table seating 8, and a lounge with french doors leading on to the area shown above. The ground floor bedroom has a double bed with right or left hand transfer and sufficient underneath clearance for a portable hoist. There is also a door out on to the rear patio with views over the surrounding peaceful woodland.
The shower room
The adjacent shower room has a level access shower and room to left hand transfer to the toilet. Upstairs there are two twin bedrooms suitable for carers/family or friends. This property could be suitable for an accompanied wheelchair user.
For more detailed accessibility information and a link to their own website please click here
Tynycornel Hotel
Teal at Tynycornel
Approximately 10 miles north of Machynlleth on the B4405 at Tal-y-llyn is the Tynycornel Hotel. The Hotel is situated in beautiful countryside beside the Talyllyn Lake in the Snowdonia National Park. There is excellent access to the restaurant, lounge and bar. One of the hotels bedrooms (Teal) has been purpose built for wheelchair users and has easy access from the hotel along a covered level pathway. The small courtyard garden immediately outside the room has ramped access for wheelchair users and there is separate disabled parking adjacent to the room.
The en-suite wetroom
The twin bedded room has good internal dimensions and a spacious en-suite wetroom with room to right hand side transfer to the toilet. The divan beds offer right or left hand transfer and the tea/coffee making facilities are at an accessible height. The hotel owns the lake and guests can make use of one of the two accessible wheely boats if they wish to fish it (It is one of the few remaining natural brown trout fisheries south of Scotland). This property could be suitable for unaccompanied wheechair users.
For more detailed accessibility information and a link to their own website please click here
Pentre Bach
Pentre Bach Holiday Cottages
Pentre Bach Holiday Cottages are situated on the A493 approximately 12 miles west of Tal-y-llyn. One of the cottages called Pen-y-lon has wheelchair access and a ground floor double bedroom (right or left hand transfer). The cottage has a conservatory with uninterrupted views to the sea and wheelchair access to the garden. Upstairs are two further bedrooms, one double and one triple plus a separate bathroom.
There is a ground floor bathroom with a level access shower. N.B. Please note that side transfer to the toilet is impeded by the adjacent hand basin. Bed raisers are available and portable hoist hire can be arranged. There is also a toilet seat raiser on site. The mainline railway station is approximately 600 yds away and is wheelchair accessible.
For more detailed accessibility information and a link to their own website please click here
As with all the accommodation included on the site these are only guide lines to assist with choice we strongly recommend you to check with the providers for your own specific requirements.
Mid Wales is a beautiful area with spectacular scenery and if you choose to visit you should not be disappointed.