Ceredigion (historic)

Known in Welsh as Ceredigion or Sir Aberteifi. A maritime County bounded W. by Cardigan Bay, N. by Merioneth, E. by Montgomeryshire, Radnorshire and Brecknockshire, and S. by Carmarthenshire and Pembrokeshire. Area 440,630 acres. Population 64,000. The Cambrian Mountains cover much of the E. of the County. In the S. and W. the surface is less elevated. The highest point is Plynlimmon at 2,486 feet at which five rivers have their source: the Severn, the Wye, the Dulas, the Llyfnant and Rheidol, the last of which meets the Mynach in a 300-foot plunge at the Devil's Bridge chasm. The 50 miles of coastline has many sandy beaches. The main towns are Aberaeron, Aberarth, Aberystwyth, Cardigan, Eglwys Fach, Lampeter, Llanrhystud, New Quay, Newcastle Emlyn (partly in Carmarthenshire) and Tregaron. The chief river is the Teifi which forms the border with Carmarthenshire and Pembrokeshire for much of its length. Tourism and agriculture, chiefly hill farming, are the most important industries.

Places of special interest: Ceredigion Museum, Aberystwyth (SN5881); Devil's Bridge (SN7477); Strata Florda Abbey (SN7465); Vale of Rheidol Railway (SN5881). Aberystwyth Castle, Nanteos Mansion, Welsh Gold Centre Tregaron, Llywernog Silver Lead Mine