Ceredigion

Ceredigion sits on the west coast of Wales, facing Cardigan Bay. The county centre is Aberystwyth, home to Aberystwyth University and the National Library of Wales. Coastal towns include Aberaeron, New Quay and Cardigan, linked by the Ceredigion Coast Path that follows cliffs, bays and estuaries. Marine life is visible from shore and boat trips; bottlenose dolphins are regularly seen off New Quay. Fishing harbours, sandy beaches and working ports shape local economy and transport along the shoreline.

Inland the landscape rises into the Cambrian Mountains. Plynlimon (Pumlumon) is a high point where headwaters for the River Severn and the River Wye begin, feeding rivers and wetland valleys across the county. Rivers such as the Teifi cut estuaries that support freshwater and saltwater habitats. Towns like Lampeter and smaller villages provide markets, farms and Welsh-language communities; Welsh remains widely used in daily life, schools and local government. Historic churches, small museums and local festivals reflect long-settled patterns of farming and coastal trade.