Aberarth is a village inCeredigion, Wales, in the community ofDyffryn Arth, on the southern end ofCardigan Bay betweenAberystwyth andCardigan at the mouth of theRiver Arth on theA487 road. TheWales Coast Path passes through the village.
The village has some historical significance, having been founded around the time of theNorman invasion. TheNormans builtDineirth Castle some way up the river valley. During the 12th centuryCistercianmonks used the area as a seaport to import "Bath Stone" fromBristol which they used for the building ofStrata Florida Abbey on land granted to them byThe Lord Rhys.Llanddewi Aberarth Church on a hill about half a mile to the south of the village is reputedly on the site of a 9th-century church. The presentparish church has aNorman architecture tower with the rest rebuilt in theVictorian era in 1860. Secured to the wall inside the front door is the only Viking hogsback stone found in Wales.
Aberarth was involved in theshipbuilding industry before 1850, but the village faded with the decline of the industry.
It has some welcome visitors from the wild bird community; thered kite,peregrine falcon,chough andstonechat are some of the species to be found in the locality.
Thebeach, although covered with large pebbles, is very popular withsurfers at certain times of the year.
In 2005, a public footpath and cycle lane was finished, connecting Aberarth to its larger neighbour,Aberaeron.
52°14′55″N4°14′07″W / 52.24849°N 4.23528°W /52.24849; -4.23528
