Wales
VIEWING THE ABERYSTWYTH AREA FROM A WHEELCHAIR
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 Visitor Centre
Approximately ten miles east of Aberystwyth on the A44 is a forest visitor centre where Red Kite are fed daily. There is a new purpose built visitor centre with a cafe and shop as well as a disabled 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 that as there are several steep inclines on the track it is advisable to have someone to help push. However as the views are spectacular especially of the Red Kite, it is well worth the effort. There is a picnic bench situated by the lake that is designed to accommodate wheelchairs.
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 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
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 Reservoir
East of Aberystwyth is the Rheidol Hydro Electric power station at Capel Bangor. Access is available although some parts of the tour are restricted for wheelchair users. It is well worth a visit and the surrounding scenery is beautiful. There is a visitor centre with cafe and an accessible toilet.
The Magic of Life Butterfly House
Situated behind the visitor centre is the Magic of Life Butterfly House and Garden. 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. There is level access throughout and the friendly staff will provide detailed informal talks about the exhibit.
Centre for Alternative Technology
Near Machynlleth about 20 miles north of Aberystwyth is the Centre for Alternative Technology most of which is accessible for wheelchairs. There is a shop and a restaurant providing meals as well as light snacks. There are also disabled toilet facilities and parking for the disabled is at the top of the driveway adjacent to the site.
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.
Five places to stay in the area are:-
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. more info
This could be suitable for both accompanied and unaccompanied wheelchair users (but please bear in mind there is no emergency pull cord in the rooms).
Plas Antaron Hotel
Second the Plas Antaron Hotel, Southgate, Aberystwyth, situated about a mile south of the town. There is plenty of parking space and level access to the hotel through a side entrance via the conference suite and around the ground floor including the breakfast room. It has a ground floor room with a double and a single divan bed. The tea/coffee making facilities are accessible from a wheelchair. The compact en suite shower room has an inch and a half lip to the shower cubicle, easy access to the washbasin but no room to side transfer from a wheelchair to the toilet. This might be suitable for accompanied wheelchair users. .
The Marine Hotel
Third the Marine Hotel situated opposite the Promenade in Aberystwyth. The hotel faces the sea and has excellent ramped access to the front entrance with a low level check-in counter. There is level access around the ground floor including the dining room. The accessible room is on the second floor reached via a lift. It has a double bed with sufficient underneath clearance for a portable hoist or if required an adjustable bed, both allow room for right or left hand transfer. The tea/coffee making facilities and an electric socket are accessible from a wheelchair. In the en suite shower room, the compact shower cubicle has a 3 inch lip but there is a ramp to aid access. There is easy access to the wash basin and space to side transfer and grab rails by the toilet. There is no emergency pull cord but there is a large buttoned phone by the bed. The hotel can arrange hire of a wheelchair should you require it. more info
This could be suitable for accompanied wheelchair users
The Llety Ceiro Guest House
Fourth the Llety Ceiro Country 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. more info
This might be suitable for both accompanied and unaccompanied wheelchair users.
One of the outside eating areas at Yr Hen Stablau
The fifth is situated 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.
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.
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.
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.