Local Area Information

Overview from Visit Mid Wales / Canolbarth Cymru

Borth / Y Borth

Borth is part of the Dyfi Biosphere, the only UNESCO Biosphere reserve in Wales, plus the Dyfi National Nature Reserve and visitors' centre at Ynyslas. The Wales Coast Path passes through Borth village.

Located just 7 miles north of Aberystwyth the town boasts a Blue Flag Beach with over two miles of golden sand as it stretches northwards to Ynyslas. The beach is of a particularly shallow gradient, making it ideal for young families.

Springtime heralds the arrival of Ospreys overhead as the sea birds make their home along the Mid Wales coast. There is a visitor centre and an exhibition space, as well as miles of rugged landscape and rolling sand dunes.

In Borth there is the popular Borth & Ynyslas Golf Club that stretches along the coast parallel to the sea. In August the town is in festive spirit as the community holds their annual Carnival. The Borth Zoo is a popular attraction which houses a collection of interesting and unusual animals.

The caravan parks that surround the village are some of the finest in Wales and make Borth a particularly good base from which to explore the coastline, with Barmouth, Aberdovey and Harlech to the north, and Aberystwyth to the south, all a short train journey away.

Along the beach beyond the buildings of Borth, the remains of a submerged forest can be seen at low tide. Bones and tree remains have been seen here and the recent discovery of deer antlers confirm that this stretch of land, known as Cantre'r Gwaelod, once flourished when the sea-level was lower.


Local legends


At certain times of the year along the southern end of the beach low tide reveals the stumps of an ancient forest that flourished over 1500 years ago. The submerged woodland evokes the myth of Cantre'r Gwaelod, an ancient Welsh Kingdom said to be swallowed by the sea.

Six thousand years later and Borth has the modern-day accolade of being one of the key filming locations for the BBC Wales Nordic Noir television series Hinterland. Cors Fochno, the boat yard where the River Leri reaches the sea and Borth station have featured prominently in the internationally acclaimed award-winning series.

It is not commonly known, but Morrisseys 'Every day is like Sunday', was originally written about Borth after one of his stays there.

Borth has a railway station on the Cambrian line from Shrewsbury to Aberystwyth