Sophie’s World is (at least in part) about travelling with children. About time the children are heard. Alexandra, my oldest daughter, just finished her MA at Aberystwyth University in Wales. Today, she shares one of her fave features of the city by Cardigan Bay.
Hello and welcome to Aber. I was a student in Aberystwyth for a year and I LOVED the place I lived. I realise that many people know very little about this city, so I thought I’d share one of my Aber faves with you. I hope you enjoy it!
My absolute favourite feature of Aberystwyth is the promenade.
The promenade is over 100 years old, and is separated into a South and North beach with the Pier in the middle. This post is about the northern part, where I lived, and, frankly, the nicest part. Pictured below is one of the halls of residence – or dorms, for you Americans. I lived here! Impossible not to love living here…
Below is a view of the end of the promenade with the residence halls and Constitution Hill in the background. The black building is Alexandra Hall. Another reason to love living here!
… and the other direction, leading into town:
Practically next door is the pub, at the Glengower Hotel, locally known as The Glen. Part of the hotel used to be the house of Sir John Williams, founder of the National Library of Wales – and a suspect in the Jack the Ripper-case. Spooky!
The weather can be rough here in far western Wales and locals know not to park their cars on the seafront. This is what happens when the waves hit the shore. Just one night of storms did this.
Revenge of the Irish Sea
But Aberystwyth isn’t always rough:
Sunset over Cardigan Bay. Seen from my windows!
Alexandra Redisch is a citizen of the world, as Ibsen’s Peer Gynt said, but hails from Norway. She’s a published short story author, old-fashioned mystery fanatic, avid traveller and intense tea drinker. Alex has a BSc in psychology and an MA in creative writing. She just got a book deal – yay!
*From Aberystwyth With Love is one of the many cheekily titled books by Malcolm Pryce, Welsh crime noir author. I’ve cheekily pinched his title.
Aberystwyth looks like a really pretty city. And that view from you window looks amazing.
I had no idea that Aberystwyth was so pretty, Truth be told, I had not idea it was by the sea. I like the idea of the revenge of the Irish Sea, though. 🙂
@Alouise and David – Thanks. Aberystwyth has a gorgeous setting.
A dorm room with a view of the sea? Where was that when I was picking a college? And huge congrats on the book deal. Like Mama like daughter.
@Vera Marie – Haha, I didn’t have much sea view from the dorms either. But then I was at uni in Oklahoma 🙂
Give that Citizen of the World a hug for me. Wow !
@Mike – Thanks, I will 🙂
Beautiful photos – I’ll really have to check Aberystwyth out on a map.
@ItalianNotes – Thanks, that reminded me I had forgotten to add the map. Will fix 🙂
Very good, beautiful
Thank you.
Very pretty sunset – and daughter!
Thank you. I’m sure she’ll be pleased to hear it 🙂
Wow, the last two pictures took my breath away, nice camera con vista you have Alexandra!
Nice student digs, isn’t it? I’d like to have that view from my home.
Hey, my daughter’s named Alexandra, too! Congrats on the book deal.
@Bret – May I just say, you have excellent taste in names…
Congrats on the book deal!!! I hope to hear from “the children” more often!!
The children will be heard. Only fair, I suppose 🙂
Congratulations on your book deal, Alexandra! Enjoyed reading your post. I can see from your photos why you love Aberystwyth. I think I would, too.
Thanks for stopping by, Cathy.
Congratulations to Alexandra on the book deal and to Sophie too, a proud mum, I’ve no doubt.
Thanks, Ana!
This looks amazingly like Tynemouth, one of my local cities! Gorgeous!
Anthony! I just googled Tynemouth; it looks beautiful. Really about time to visit the north of England. Like my countrymen have done before… mwahahaha!
What a lovely place to go to university – the name alone makes me want to visit!
Yeah, it’s one of those names that just sound fascinating, isn’t it…
I’d call those views a serious distraction! Incredible!
I know what you mean. I’d likely just sit and stare and daydream and not get much done.
We’ve only been to a few places in Wales and never to Aberystwyth – although I did almost apply to that university myself when I was younger (ended up in sunny Hull instead!). Looks like a pretty place to study.
Julia
Not been to sunny Hull yet.
Bravo! Totally satisfying to see one’s offspring fly so high, eh. You deserve and have reason to be proud.
Totally! And thank you, Michael!
Ah, the sunset pics with the lamppost! Wonderful! And thank you for including the map. It’s great to see exactly where Cardigan Bay is.
It is a bit off the beaten track, so the map is useful, I think. I like that street light, too. Something Narnian about it…
Talent runs in the family, Sophie. Lovely post and I adore the sunset pictures.
So kind of you, Inka!
Beautiful photos! Had no idea you had a daughter that had finished college! 🙂
@Jeremy – Thanks! And yeah, I have a 23-year-old and a 10-year-old.
I knew you had a younger one just didn’t realize you had one so mature and grown up! 🙂
Aw, that’s awesome that you let your daughter guest post! She is a very talented writer and photographer, too, I see. 🙂
Thanks, Michael! Time the children get to speak, I suppose 🙂
Great post and lovely shots. Congrats on the book deal! Those are some of the classier student digs that I’ve seen!
Nice digs, indeed. And just across the sea from Ireland 🙂
I love the structure of the building. Are you the one who took the pictures. Nice shots by the way. I guess being a student there is a lovely experience
Great pictures of the promenade Sophie. It’s such a great place to stay. A peaceful place and the people are cool !
What a beautiful location right on the bay. Thanks for sharing this with us, Alexandra. All the best with the book!
Thanks, Andrew! It really is the most gorgeous promenade there in Aberystwyth.
Oh, Sophie – what a lucky mom you are to have such a beautiful and talented daughter. Congratulations to the both of you on the book deal.
Such kind words, Sherry! Thank you so much.
Aberystwyth doesn’t get much travel coverage so I was pleased to see someone putting that right. My two of my nephews went to university there. One is still there and loving it.
My preference would be Cardiff though. That’s where I went to university.
Thanks, John. I’m a big fan of Wales, though I’ve not made it to Cardiff yet. Hoping to this summer!
Love this! So often we forget in writing about travel to write about the beauty and wonderful experiences in our hometowns.
So true, Erica! Sometimes all it takes is looking around the corner. Or out the window…
So cool to read about a place I’ve never heatd of and still is so pretty.
It is pretty, isn’t it…
The photo of the lamp post, the ocean and the sunset is so incredibly beautiful.
The Welsh coast is very beautiful indeed, Marie.
[…] love the UK and have been there more times than I care to count. I did my postgrad degree in Aberystwyth, and I love Wales dearly. I love their accents, the sea, the rolling hills, and the rich history. […]