Built in 1865, Aberystwyth's Royal Pier extends 300 metres into Cardigan Bay and is one of the best-preserved Victorian piers in Wales. Walking to the end gives wide views north toward the Llŷn Peninsula and south along the Heritage Coast of Ceredigion. On clear days the distant hills of the Cambrian Mountains rise to the east.
The pier has had a turbulent history — parts were destroyed by storms in 1938 and again in 1968, and it has been reconstructed and repaired several times. The current structure, though shorter than the original, retains its Victorian character. The pavilion at the entrance hosts seasonal events. It's free to walk, and at night the illuminated pier makes a good backdrop for the seafront.