Lovely Aberystwyth (fondly known as Aber) has long been known as a seaside town, culture hub, and centre of learning. Located at the heart of the Ceredigion coastline, it's roughly as far from St Davids in Pembrokeshire as it is from Pwllheli in Gwynedd . Here, you'll find a castle, a promenade, the National Library of Wales, the Arts Centre, more than 50 pubs, and one of Wales' oldest universities. This buzzing student town was also recently named one of the 'happiest places to live in the UK' by the Guardian and was the setting for the hit Netflix TV series Hinterland. While many come to explore Aber's sandy shores, something curious rises from the northern end of Aberystwyth promenade. This area features unique attractions that may have escaped the attention of newbie visitors. Constitution Hill rises dramatically from the coast, providing spectacular views of Aber and can be accessed by a historic train. At 778 feet, the Aberystwyth Cliff Railway is the longest funicular electric cliff railway in Britain. It operated via a water balance system until its electrification in 1921. This lovely funicular opened in 1896 and has been transporting visitors to the Constitution Hill summit ever since. It has also been a Grade II listed structure since November 1987. The recently installed summit station passenger lift now provides wheelchair access to the top of Constitution Hill, and major works have been completed to offer accessible footpaths. The carriages are hauled to the summit at a stately four miles per hour. They are powered by a powerful motor and high-tensile steel cables, supported by a sophisticated electronic safety system. At the midpoint of the journey, the railway ventures through a deep cutting, where 12,000 tons of rock were excavated to allow the winding footpath to cross via a series of bridges overhead. There’s no need to book in advance. With slow chugging trains running every few minutes, you can buy a ticket, hop on board, and slowly ascend to the best views in Wales. Once you reach the top of Constitution Hill, you'll be spoiled with an epic panorama of Cardigan Bay and, on a clear day, the 26 mountain peaks spanning much of the length of Wales. It's one of the most incredible views we have here, and you don't have to hike for miles to see it. From superstar gigs to cosy pubs, find out What’s On in Wales by signing up to our newsletter here From medieval times until the early twentieth century, Constitution Hill was the site of several large quarries, which, along with others in the area, provided much of the stone required to build the town of Aberystwyth, including its now-ruined castle. This large hill was also the Victorian predecessor of our modern-day theme parks and had plenty to offer tourists. In 1895, the Aberystwyth Improvement Company was formed, a business venture with the goal of developing the hill for leisure and tourism and created the Victorian Luna Park. Sadly, Luna Park's development did not survive long, as successive summers of poor weather in the early twentieth century limited the number of visitors. Today, however, there are still some family-friendly amusements, including a games room with bowling alleys, a soft play area, and a cliff-top Crazy Golf course. You can also experience one of the world’s largest camera obscuras here. This technological masterpiece has a massive 14-inch lens, which lets you observe about 1,000 square miles of land and seascape with amazing clarity and precision. There are also historical displays, a kids' play area, a gift shop, a cafe selling delicious home-made snacks, and plenty of wide-open spaces for picnics and walking. Dogs are also welcome across the site. At its peak runs the Clarach Footpath on the Wales Coast Path, which connects the town of Aberystwyth with Clarach Bay and offers scenic views of Cardigan Bay and the surrounding coastline. Nearby is the Borth – Clarach Site of Special Scientific Interest. Looking to stay in Aber longer? The Richmond Hotel, The Glengower, or the 3-star Gwesty'r Marine Hotel & Spa are all great choices. You can also search for accommodation on Booking.com , Airbnb , and Holiday Cottages .