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All walksCeredigion Coast

Ceredigion Coast

Constitution Hill

The hill at the north end of Aberystwyth prom, with a cliff railway, a camera obscura at the top and the whole of Cardigan Bay laid out below.

Distance
3.1 mi / 5 km
Time
1 hr 50
Ascent
200 m
Difficulty
Moderate
Shape
Circular

Where it is

The circle shows the general area, not the exact start. Use the directions link below to get to the car park itself. Contours and paths shown are OpenTopoMap, drawn from OpenStreetMap data.

The route

Climb the zigzag path from the end of the promenade, or take the cliff railway up and walk down. The coast path continues north from the summit towards Clarach.

Worth knowing

  • The cliff railway is the longest electric funicular in Britain and running it one way makes the walk easier.
  • Kicking the bar at the end of the prom is an Aberystwyth ritual. Do it before you climb.
  • Starling murmurations gather under the pier at dusk from autumn into winter, and are extraordinary.

What you’ll see

The bay, the town and castle, the camera obscura, and in clear weather the Llŷn peninsula.

Background

The cliff railway opened in 1896. The original camera obscura was Victorian; the present one was installed in 1985.