Aberporth
is a small village that sits on the southern edge of Cardigan Bay in
West
Wales. Indeed it's so small I couldn't find the shopping centre!
But you don't visit Aberporth for the shopping, it's the fabulous
beaches that attract the visitors to Aberporth. The two beaches
sit between the two rocky headlands of Trecregyn and Fathgarreg and
are separated by a smaller rocky outcrop which also holds the car
park and toilet facilities. (Parking was free when we visited in 2008).
The more southerly of the two beaches is the most popular for families
and for sunbathing while the northern beach is popular for launching
pleasure boats, including sailing boats, kayaks and canoes.Tractors
are used to launch fishing boats from this beach which is why the
south beach is more popular with families. But I have to say that
the beach is so big that there is room for all.
On the day of our visit the fishermen were busy unloading crate after
crate of giant spider-crabs ( well they looked big to me). It seems
that spider-crabs are abundant in Cardigan Bay at the moment. Indeed
the same fishermen set off again from Aberporth beach within the hour
and returned within two hours with another full load of spider-crabs.....the
spanish will be eating well this year!
Close to the beaches, behind the rocky outcrop, there is a small seaside
cafe, a souvenir shop and a friendly
pub for good food and drink.
But Aberporth has more to offer than it's glorious beaches, being on the
route of the Ceredigion Coastal Path, between the towns of Cardigan in
the south and Llangrannog and New Quay to the north, it's a great base
for exploring one of the best coastal paths in the UK.