A charming UK seaside town named ‘one of the best’ has the largest population of dolphins in Europe. Renowned for its stunning coastline, sandy beaches Cardigan Bay in Mid Wales is the perfect place to get away from the hustle and bustle of life.
Cardigan Bay boasts more than 60 miles of coast, 30 beaches and is home to around 300 bottlenose dolphins. Tourists flock from all over the country to catch a glimpse of the beautiful animals. Cardigan Bay has relatively shallow waters, has a sheltered environment and an array of fish and squid, making it an important breeding and feeding area for the dolphins.
You can catch a glimpse of the bottlenose dolphins all year round but to increase your chances it is best to visit during the summer months, particularly between May and September. This is when the dolphins are most active and the water is often calmer.
The first thing visitors spot when visiting Aberaeron, a town on Cardigan Bay in Wales, is the rows of colourful houses. Contributing to the town’s picturesque charm the houses were painted their distinctive colour to help guide sailors back to safety.
Over the past couple of years Cardigan has been touted as a top travel destination thanks to it boasting a wealth of independent businesses, ancient history, modern comforts and natural beauty.
In 2023 it ranked third in Time Out's 15 places to visit. Time Out called Cardigan “an old-fashioned Welsh market town with a dazzling creative streak”, and a “beautiful place with a fascinating history”.
It also notes the town is “brimming with gorgeous cafés, convivial pubs and other independent businesses”.
In Cardigan you will find Cardigan Castle, with a history spanning 900 years the castle was once full of medieval splendor. Today, visitors can explore the well-preserved medieval castle ruins, including the impressive curtain walls and the iconic cylindrical tower.
Renowed for its unspoilt townscape and rich heritage Cardigan Bay is also famous known for its fresh seafood, with many restaurants serving fresh local produce.