This was a Lad & Dad trip as we fancied the Museum but it’s not on our doorstep. It can be done in two days but it’s best to go Friday and come back Sunday or longer as there is plenty to see and do.
It’s in Ceredigion, Wales SA43 2JS once you leave the M56 you have no more motorway. It’s a nice drive with some nice places on the way, don’t forget to stop off, we went in classic camper van that does 50MPH flat out going down hill!
We left the M56 and headed down the A483 towards Oswestry a nice little town worth stopping for a wander and a coffee. Have a check up as it has quite a few events in the town or nearby.
This place runs a free Transport Festival in July, Knife Angels are often on display too but phone to check first.
https://www.britishironworkcentre.co.uk
Oswestry dates back to 1190 it is an ancient market town located in the North of Shropshire close by the English – Welsh Border. Its strategic position as a ‘frontier town’ has given it a turbulent history. Today the town still retains its vital function as a market and shopping centre serving North West Shropshire and Mid Wales. The narrow passageways link streets whose names conjure up images of the past: English Walls, Welsh Walls, The Bailey and the Horsemarket. It is a locally important shopping and agricultural centre and still retains the intimacy of a rural town serving local people and home to a number of specialist and independent shops.
Leave Oswestry and head for Aberystwyth.
Aberystwyth is a university town and tourist destination, and forms a cultural link between North and South Wales. Constitution Hill, scaled by the http://www.aberystwythcliffrailway.co.uk, gives access to panoramic views and to other attractions at the summit, including a camera obscure
Although the town is relatively modern, its a nice place for a wander around plenty of pubs and cafe’s. The Old College was originally built and opened in 1865 as a hotel, but after the owner’s bankruptcy the shell of the building was sold to the university in 1867.
We left Aberystwyth and headed for Aberaron
It’s a lovely small town with beaches, all the usual shops etc….
Next stop New Quay ( Wales not Cornwall)
New Quay is a picturesque seaside town on the Cardigan Bay coast of West Wales. Its golden sandy beaches and sheltered harbour make New Quay a delight to visit at any time of year. We had a wander around and decided to see if we could park overnight locally, the local car park a short up hill walk offered Camper van parking overnight for £8! I think it was Towyn Road SA45 9QQ.
Plenty of chips and pubs for food and if you are lucky you can see dolphins form the harbour wall. Nice beach, ideal family holiday place.
So we parked and had some food and beer ready for the museum the next day
It’s difficult to describe but if you are interested in engineering or technology this is the place for you. If some of the family want to go and some don’t, leave the others here at Aberporth Beach
http://www.discoverceredigion.co.uk/English/where/towns/Pages/Aberporth.aspx
It’s a small village with two stunning beaches, couple of shops/ cafes and a pub, what more could you wish for?
We then did the route in reverse to get home but if we had more time we could have spent several days in the area.