Cambrian Mountains Northwest
Wales
2022

Constitution Hill and Pen Dinas


27. 8. 2022

Peter Schrammel

Weather

cloudless

Interest 

***: Extended sightseeing over the city`s cliffs and a hill fort

Route

Aberystwyth station, 12m - Cliff railway upper station, 93m - Constitution Hill, 115m - Aberystwyth Castle, 8m - Pen Dinas hill fort, 120m - Aberystwyth station

Elevation gain

327m

Distance

11km

Timing

2 3/4h (1/2 + 1/3 + 2/3 + 3/4 + 1/2)

Stamina 

C

Difficulty 

0

Danger 

3: narrow path in the lower part of the ascent 3, cliff walk near high drops 3, caution when approaching the edge (!); Pen Dinas 1

Visitor frequency 

d: lots of dog walkers and tourists on Constitution Hill d, rather calm on Pen Dinas b

Report

A bank holiday weekend was on its way. The weather was announced to be good. So, I decided to go hiking in Wales for 4 days, again using public transport, this time in the region of Cadair Idris. It was difficult to find accommodation, in particular from Saturday to Sunday. Only in Aberystwyth, there was something left. So, I would spend the first day and night there. I took the train after 8.30am via Birmingham. As it often happens on bank holiday weekends, trains were disrupted and I needed to change trains at Shrewsbury. Another half an hour delay was accumulated before Machynlleth. Finally, I arrived in Aberystwyth after 2pm. The plan was to hike over the two hills closest to the city centre: Constitution Hill and Pen Dinas. First, I walked along the sea promenade to the foot of the cliff. A few people were lying on the beach, some bathing. There are several paths leading up through the rocky face consisting of very brittle slate. It was very hot, so I removed the lower legs of my trousers soon. The path crosses the cliff railway twice before reaching the top. I enjoyed the nice views over the city before continuing on the cliff path. From there I had a great view to Ll&circy;n peninsula and Bardsey Island across Tremadog Bay. There were lots of dogwalkers along the impressive 100m high cliffs. Before the path descends to Clarach Beach, I took a path cut through dense scrubs that cover the hill, leading back to the busy upper railway station. I walked another path down and along the whole promenade with its colourful houses. Unsurprisingly, there was a long queue at an icecream stand on such a sunny day. The impressive castle-like University building was closed due to refurbishments. From the Castle grounds I could already see the Wellington monument on top of Pen Dinas. To go there, I continued via the old port and the bridge over river Rheidol. After a posh residential area, I took the path to Pen Dinas, which follows in a long switchback the western slope above the Ystwyth valley. I arrived on the summit after 4pm and took a short break sitting in the meadow with views over the southern Ceredigian Bay. Then I hiked down via the eastern path back to the city centre and my accommodation.



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