Upper Borth Cottages
Silver Ridge Ffordd Y Fulfran, Upper Borth, Ceredigion, Wales

General Information on Borth and the Surrounding Area

Borth is situated six miles north of Aberystwyth on the Cardigan Bay coast. The village has a long, golden sandy beach. The south end, beneath the cliffs, has a wide expanse of rock pools where children can find a variety of small fish and shellfish. The cliffs themselves continue south to Wallog and accommodate a range of nesting birds including gulls, chuffs, ravens and peregrine falcons. From Wallog, the causeway extends out to the legendary sunken city of Cantre’r Gwaelod.

At the north end lies the Ynyslas Nature Reserve, a protected area of sand dunes reaching as far as the Dyfi Estuary. Since 2009 the Dyfi Valley has been designated a Biosphere by UNESCO and hosts some of the finest examples of special landscapes and wildlife areas in Europe. The reserve is manned during the summer months by staff who arrange activities for young children, helping them to find and identify the nesting birds, butterflies and rare orchids. For those interested in wildlife, Northfield itself is home to several varieties of birds nesting in the hedges and we regularly have visits from a fox, squirrels, weasels, rabbits, badgers and hedgehogs. There are pictorial information posters on display to help you recognise the birds, animals and butterflies.

Under certain tidal conditions the main stretch of beach reveals the waterlogged remains of the primeval forest.

Between Borth and Tre’rddol lies Borth Bog, an area full of small wildlife, - birds, butterflies, marsh plants and reptiles. Some five miles north of Tre’rddol the RSPB have a bird sanctuary where dawn and twilight guided walks take place during the summer months. Just before you reach the RSPB Reserve, there is an Osprey Breeding Centre where the BBC filmed Springwatch in 2011. They are due to return in the spring of 2012. For dates see the BBC Springwatch website.

There are several public footpaths in the area including the coastal path through Clarach to Aberystwyth and through pastureland to neighbouring villages, - Talybont, Dolybont, Llandre and Taliesin. Immediately opposite Northfield, there is a path leading to a small, sheltered cove with steps leading up to a war memorial on the cliff top, from where you can enjoy wonderful views across the bay to Bardsey Island. The surrounding area has a wealth of forestry walks, all peaceful and safe. Some of the walks lead to hidden lakes and some have picnic areas and wonderful panoramic views.

Borth has a range of public houses, shops and cafes as well as some large caravan parks with seasonal clubhouse entertainment, one of which (Brynrodyn) is open to Northfield customers. There are tennis courts in the village and an amusement arcade. Borth also has a well-known eighteen hole golf course with Clubhouse situated at the north end of the village. In addition, there is a 9-hole golf course at Capel Bangor, some 4-5 miles away. One of the increasingly popular attractions in the village is the Animalarium - well worth a visit, particularly for children.

At certain times of the year, you can fish for mackerel, bass, skate and flatfish off the beach and if the weather is suitable, there are boats available from Aberystwyth to take you deep sea fishing or to just sit and wait for the dolphins and seals to put in an appearance. There is also river and lake fishing within ten miles for which a permit is required.

Within ten miles of Borth there are two leisure centres, one at Aberystwyth and another at Machynlleth. Also at the university town of Aberystwyth you will find crazy golf, an amusement centre, a museum, a theatre, two cinemas and a range of shops and restaurants. Leaving Aberystwyth station daily on the narrow gauge railway line is a small steam engine with its open carriages winding through the Rheidol Valley to the waterfalls at Devil’s Bridge. Also in the Rheidol Valley there is the Rheidol Riding Centre, an excellent riding school suitable for both beginners and experienced riders. Further along the valley towards the Plynlymon Mountain Range the Llywernog Silver Mines are open to the public with guided tours underground to give you a taste of the labour market in by-gone days.

The market town of Machynlleth houses the original Welsh Parliament, the famous Celtica multi-media exhibition and nearby the Centre for Alternative Technology and the King Arthur’s Labyrinth. To the north and south of Aberystwyth, there are popular Activity Centres which offer a comprehensive range of outdoor acvtivities, complete with tuition if you need it.

Just outside Machynlleth you will find Raptor Experience Wales. For those who love birds, this is an amazing experience. You can choose from a range of activities and handle birds of prey and owls. Not to be missed. See their website www.raptorexperiencewales.co.uk.

The Nantyrarian Visitor Centre, also on the Plynlymon Mountains is a well known kite-feeding centre. A recent development has been the building of a new café, information centre, and shower block overlooking the lake.

Places to eat are on the increase in Borth and outlying areas. On the seafront in Borth there will be a large new café above the Shop/Post Office. The Railway Inn has recently changed hands and has been totally renovated. It is developing an excellent reputation for lunches and dinners. The Welsh Black in Bowstreet also has a good reputation. Further afield, there are two award-winning restaurants - one in Ynyshir [near the RSPB Bird Sanctuary at Furnace] and the other in the Harbourmaster Hotel at Aberaeron. There is also a highly recommended award-winning restaurant in the Wynnstay Arms in Machynlleth.

This is just a broad outline of Borth and its surrounding area. If you need further details please ring and we will do our best to help.

CLICK HERE FOR VIDEO OF ACTIVITIES IN BORTH