The town itself has a long and tumultuous history. It was the principal town of the old Welsh kingdom of Deheubarth.

When the Normans first invaded the kingdom in the late 11th century, Cardigan was one of the prizes they aimed for. The Normans built Cardigan Castle overlooking the Teifi River, but the Welsh refused to be beaten. The town was taken and retaken several times during the 12th century. Today the castle keep and two towers can be seen, but the interior is not open to the public.

It was during one of the periods of Welsh ascendancy that the first eisteddfod was held here, in 1176. The eisteddfod is a sort of cultural love-in, a mixture of music, poetry, prose, and celebration of Welsh customs and culture. The Welsh National Eisteddfod is now an annual event held in a different place each year. If the crumbling ruins of ancient castles do not stir your blood, perhaps you'd prefer a newer attraction. The Cardigan Heritage Centre opened in 1997 in a converted 18th century warehouse on Teifi Wharf. The Centre has permanent exhibits tracing the history of Cardigan from the days before the coming of the Normans.

For several centuries preceding the advent of the railway, Cardigan was one of the busiest shipping ports in Wales; busier than even Swansea or Cardiff. Times have changed, and the bustle is now centred around Cardigan's historic Guidhall, now a market place.

The town is situated just north of the border of Pembrokeshire National Park, and the long-distance Pembrokeshire Coast National Trail begins just outside the town. The path can be walked in short sections for an easy introduction to this dramatically beautiful coastline. Nearby is St. Dogmael's Abbey, the remains of a 12th century Benedictine abbey attractively situated on a hillside. At St. Dogmael's the famous Sagranus Stone was found. The stone provided the first clues which allowed historians to decipher early Celtic written language. The Stone can be seen at St. Thomas' Church. In the adjacent churchyard is a memorial to shipwrecked sailors.

Opposite the abbey is Y Felin, a working watermill where you can buy fresh-ground flours. At Cilgerran is the Welsh Wildlife Centre, 300 acres of River Teifi marshland set aside as a low-impact way to allow visitors to study local wildlife species in their natural habitat. The Centre hosts talks, nature walks, demonstrations, and lectures for visitors. In Cilgerran village is Cilgerran Castle, built by the son of William Marshall, Earl of Pembroke, in the 13th century to subdue the rebellious Welsh. The castle is open year-round.

Cardigan Castle was built by the Normans and visitors can still see the keep and the castle towers which are unfortunately in a ruined state. The castle is not open to the public and until recently remained private property. Visitors travelling around the outer limits of the castle grounds will notice a Georgian Manor located within the grounds. Thankfully, due to a well organised campaign, the castle is now in public hands and awaits restoration.

Aberaeron: In the 19th century, the port of Aberaeron had a busy ship-building industry, but today it is fishing and tourism that sustain the town. For the tourist, there are two bathing beaches, a sailing centre, magnificent walks within easy reach. The beauty of the Aeron Valley and the Teifi Valley (with its salmon and trout fishing) is not far distant. Here you can also watch fishermen paddling coracles, the traditional small craft made by stretching canvas over a wicker frame.

Aberystwyth:Although a resort town, Aberystwyth has also the original building for the University College of Wales and is the home of the National Library of Wales. The University College of Wales is spread across many buildings in the town, and many of them can be visited by asking at the porters lodges. The Notional Library of Wales contains something like 2 million books and 4 million Welsh records. It took from its inception in 1873 until 1955 to be completed. It contains among other treasures, the Black Book of Carmarthen, which dates from the 12th century, and the White Book of Roderick.If you just want to enjoy the resort, then there are sand and pebble beaches, public gardens, and the ruins of a castle.