Colourful shops in Aberaeron…
In my last post I shared my pictures of Llanerchaeron, high up on the River Aeron in Ceredigion, Mid-West Wales. This time it’s the pretty little town at the mouth of the same river – Aberaeron.
Like some other seaside towns, it features brightly-coloured houses and shops. I remember seeing the same in the West of Ireland and Devon and Cornwall.
View from the harbour to Aberaeron town…
Zooming in on that view to see Holy Trinity Church, built in 1872, and some of the painted houses
Wikipedia tells me that Aberaeron’s harbour and town were developed from 1805 by the Rev Alban Thomas Jones Gwynne, which is no doubt why the houses all look Georgian in style. There was a shipbuilding industry there in the 19th century and steam ships visited until the 1920s.
Aberaeron has now developed into a small half-tide harbour for leisure craft. I don’t know what “half-tide” means, but perhaps it means half the time the boats are floating and half the time the tide is out and they are surrounded by mud?
Small yachts in Aberaeron harbour, looking out to sea…
The Hive on the Quay restaurant at Aberaeron is famous for its seafood and honey ice-cream (not on the same plate)…
I always imagine the houses are painted brightly in distinctive colours so that sailors coming home from sea can identify their own homes as early as possible as they near the port.
Painted houses overlooking Aberaeron harbour
More painted houses…
More painted houses…
More painted houses…
Colourful shops in Market Street, Aberaeron
The beautiful blue/violet Harbourmaster Hotel in Aberaeron…
Just to the left of the Harbourmaster are the public loos and a tourist information centre – and this little pink cottage…
Looking south from Aberaeron…
Cardigan Bay – looking west from Aberaeron…
Looking north from Aberaeron…
Umbels on the shore – not sure if it’s giant hogweed or something more subtle…
So, apart from a few scraps, that’s probably the last of my 2012 summer holiday pictures. Winter draws (drawers) on!
The Squirrelbasket 
Its so nice to see the colorful houses. Gives the place more character I think.
Yes. Yet in some towns, cities and villages the planning authorities ban brightly-painted houses!
Best wishes 🙂
Aberaeron has always been the touchstone in elegance for me. Once of my favourite places on earth I was actually there yesterday. No matter the weather or time of year, it always gleams like the jewel it is. Thanks for making me smile!
Thank you for your kind comments.
One thing I didn’t mention in my post was that the pictures were taken on two different days, one sunny and one very wet. So you are right, it’s lovely whatever the weather!
Best wishes 🙂
Gorgeous photos. Feeling nostalgic for brighter days! Love the humour Pat 🙂
Thanks. Not sure if you mean brighter days historically or weather-wise! Don’t forget the likes of us were below stairs in Georgian days, too!
As for the weather, thank goodness for the bright autumn leaves at the moment.
I’m currently reading The Woman in Black on my Kindle – set in a November, so I can identify with the weather, and very scary…
Best wishes 🙂
Whenever i go to Aberaeron I feel like I’ve been teleported across the Irish Sea. Such a lovely change from most of our monochrome towns.
Thanks for your kind comment. You’ve got me wondering, now, whether British East Coast towns have brightly-painted houses, or whether it becomes more common as you go west…
Best wishes 🙂
Thank you for leaving me a lovely comment and introducing me to your blog. I love your pictures and your family connections of Dorset. I too am interested in family history and learning more about my ancestors.
Aberaeron looks a lovely place by the sea, it’s nice to see the colourful buildings.
Sarah x
Thanks, Sarah!
I’m glad I found your blog, too. I love staying connected to Dorset and its lovely coast and nature.
I hope we may find one day that we are distantly related!
By the way, are you on Twitter? I sometimes Tweet your blog posts but I don’t think I have a Twitter name to credit you with.
best wishes 🙂
Pat..beautiful little seaside town..looks like definitly a place for a great week-end get-away. Appears quite quaint, a touch of yesterday. Thank you for sharing your trip with us.Absolutely love the colorful houses..they’re a hoot..how could you not have a positive attitude with that ambience ? enjoy the day.
Thank you – I must admit even on a rainy day the brightly-painted houses do cheer you up 🙂
I wish all towns were painted like that, especially the ones at the seaside!
Me too 🙂