Cardigan Bay is a great spot along the Wales Coastal Path to take a rest day. We are relaxing in the beautiful seaside town of Aberystwyth with a university, busy tourist hotels and a lovely promenade where you can while away time drinking a coffee or drinking in the beauty of the bay while people watching tourists relaxing.

On the promendate I spotted the bench shown below with braces in the shape of a sea serpent. I found the same image in a couple of prints located in the bathroom lounge in the Glengower.

Among my fellow hikers, some went to check out the Bwich Nant yr Arian Visitor Centre where the endangered red kite are fed and protected. Others went to explore on the Vale of Rheidol Steam Train and visit the filming location for the streaming series Hinterland.

As for me, I spent the day resting and assessing the pain coming from my hamstring late in the previous day’s hike. I did a series of stretches, pulling out everything I remembered from previous episodes. I followed up with a second series of stretches in the afternoon.

In the meantime, I enjoyed that lovely promenade and took a walk down to the ruins left from the days in 1277 when the Aberystwyth Castle was originally built. Building began during the reign of Edward I, The fortress changed hands over the centuries, as Welsh rebels and the British took turns in control. Parliament decommissioned the site as early as the 16th century, with enough destruction to make it unusable.

Today, anyone can walk through the grounds and understand why this site was chosen. Any ship coming by sea or invaders coming by land can be seen from this vantage point from miles away.

Particularly nice is the benched areas among the ruins where bringing a good book (which I did) is so restful. Additionally, the children’s playground is smartly incorporated at the edge of the ruins. Nothing like running and playing among centuries-old ruins.

Dinner at a busy fish and chips shop, a good nights sleep, and I am ready to take on the trail again. Onward to Llanon.