A short drive from the stunning coast of Cardigan Bay, the villages of Pontgarreg and Blaencelyn offer the best of Welsh country living combined with easy access to fabulous beaches and watersports. 

The villages are a short drive from the larger coastal villages of Aberporth (6 miles from Pontgarreg/9 miles from Blaencelyn) and New Quay (10 miles from Pontgarreg/7 miles from Blaencelyn). Alternatively, the towns of Newcastle Emlyn and Llandysul are approximately 11/12 miles inland, and here you’ll find shops, restaurants and leisure facilities. 

If you’re looking to buy a permanent home, holiday let, commercial property or land in this unspoilt part of West Wales then contact Helen or Tania to discuss your property search. We’ve helped hundreds of people find what they’re looking for – you can also read more about the other towns and villages of the region in our location guides.

History

West Wales, with its dramatic coastline, is scattered with pretty rural villages that have been home to a rich and varied history. Legends of magic and kings, famous battles against the English, industrial era developments and more all combine to create a land that is increasingly popular with homeowners and investors.

Although small, Blaencelyn itself is home to a pretty church, dating back to 1894. Thought to have been built by David Davies, it is in simple Gothic style. Sadly it closed in 2002, but its architecture can still be seen close to the village.

Tourism & Recreation

Whether you love outdoor activities such as walking, cycling or horse riding, or if you prefer watersports such as surfing, kitesurfing and windsurfing, this part of West Wales has everything you need.

Pontgarreg is about a five minute drive from the lovely beach at Llangrannog (Blaencelyn about 10 minutes’ drive). Popular year round, this sandy beach has a good selection of cafes and restaurants and you can walk to the headland to spot the seals and dolphins that make their homes in the clean waters of Cardigan Bay. Other beaches close by include Cilborth and Traeth Bach, as well as the National Trust’s Penbryn Beach.

Aberporth is also very popular with its two sandy sheltered beaches and rock pools, as well as New Quay, which has three lovely beaches.

For walkers the famed Ceredigion Coastal Path isn’t far away, covering 60 miles from Cardigan in the south to Ynyslas in the north. You’ll also find quiet roads and cycle tracks, making this area hugely popular with cyclists, as well as plenty of bridleways if you enjoy horse riding.

In Pontgarreg itself there’s a children’s play area and a village hall, which hosts a range of events and activities such as coffee mornings and car boot sales. Just outside Pontgarreg is the wonderful Gwersyll Yr Urdd Llangrannog. This is predominantly an education centre for children, however at times it opens to the public to offer activities such as a dry ski slope, go-carting, swimming and more.

Newcastle Emlyn’s leisure centre has a swimming pool and gym, as well as offering a range of fitness classes, aqua fitness sessions and facilities such as squash courts, an athletics track and table tennis. 

In Llandysul there’s also a swimming pool and fitness suite, with gym equipment, badminton courts and a climbing wall. Llandysul also has a cricket club, and if you love adventure sports try Llandysul Paddlers who have experienced instructors to take you canoeing, river swimming, hill walking, climbing, canyoning and more.

Shopping

These pretty villages don’t have any shops of their own, but you can find essentials like groceries and petrol in the surrounding villages. 

In Brynhoffnant, where the local primary school is, there is a Londis grocery store and a petrol station. In both Aberporth and New Quay you can find small local grocery stores and gift shops, as you would expect from coastal holiday villages, and each has a Post Office.

Travel a little further to Llandysul and you’ll find a Spar and a CK Foodstore, as well as a butcher’s and a fruit shop, alongside other independent shops selling everything from gifts to flowers.

Alternatively, in Newcastle Emlyn there’s a Post Office, a Co-Op Food store, and many independent shops, including a greengrocer, jewellers and the popular Cardigan Bay Brownies shop. There’s also the Riverside Health Shop for wholefoods and health supplements. 

For major shops and supermarkets, the nearest ones are in the lovely market town of Cardigan (14 miles from Pontgarreg, 15 miles from Blaencelyn). Here there’s a Tesco superstore, plus an Aldi and a Spar, and many specialist shops such as surf shops, bakers and hairdressers. You should also explore the Guildhall Market – here there are over 50 stalls all set in a Grade II listed heritage building. 

Cardigan also has a Post Office and banks – Lloyds, Barclays and HSBC – as well as a theatre and cinema.

Eating & Drinking

While Pontgarreg and Blaencelyn don’t have their own dining experiences, the surrounding villages are home to a number of restaurants and pubs – with some great ones at the local beaches. In Llangrannog try the Beach Hut, which serves coffee, cakes, fish and chips and a number of Welsh specialities. There’s also the lovely Pentre Arms, set right on the beach and offering home made food and accommodation if you’re coming to house hunt in the area. For great, homemade ice cream don’t miss the Caffi Patio – here you can also enjoy milkshakes and a range of snacks.

In New Quay you’ll find a choice of fantastic restaurants such as The Pepper Pot Bar & Grill, which also offers accommodation. There’s also The Bluebell Deli & Bistro, or try The Lime Crab for fish and chips with a twist!

Aberporth too has a good choice of cafes and restaurants such as The Boy Ashore set on the beach, The Ship Bar & Grill offering lovely sea views and Caffi Sgadan for great fish and chips.

Also worth trying is Y Bryn a’r Bragdy at Brynhoffnant, a great brewery and taproom which serves its own beers and delicious pizzas.

Alternatively, both Newcastle Emlyn and Llandysul offer a choice of restaurants, coffee shops and takeaways. In Llandysul there’s a Chinese takeaway – Dan l’Sang, an Indian takeaway – the Taj Llandysul, and a Pizza Choice takeaway, as well as a choice of coffee shops and cafes such as Nyth Y Robin.

If you’re visiting Newcastle Emlyn then try Y Cwtch Coffi for good coffee and homemade cakes, or the Riverside Cafe in Adpar – a vegetarian café serving dishes such as Buddha bowls, cakes and more. There’s also a choice of pubs such as the Coopers Arms or The Three Compasses, as well as Indian and Chinese takeaways.

Healthcare

In New Quay there’s a doctor’s surgery located on Church Road. Alternatively, both Newcastle Emlyn and Llandysul have a choice of doctors and dentists. Depending where you choose to live in the area will probably help you decide which practice to register with.

In Newcastle Emlyn there’s the Meddygfa Emlyn practice – open Monday to Friday from 8am to 6.30pm if you need to see a doctor. There are also two dental practices in the town  – Emlyn Dental Care, located on Church Lane, and Teifi Dental Centre at Emlyn Square. You also have a choice of two pharmacies – a Boots Pharmacy and the Bridge Pharmacy.

In Llandysul there’s the Llynyfran Surgery for a doctor, and it runs a number of specialist clinics such as asthma and well woman clinics.  Llandysul also has the Cottage Dental Practice, as well as a Lloyds Pharmacy on New Road, and a Boots Pharmacy on Lincoln Street.

If you have a pet, the Castle House veterinary practice in Newcastle Emlyn, while in Llandysul there’s Tysul Vets.

For an excellent chiropractor we would recommend West Wales Chiropractors in Blaenporth (about 7 miles from Pontgarreg, 8.5 miles from Blaencelyn).

Schools

For younger children going to primary school, the closest school is at Brynhoffnant (2.5 miles from Pontgarreg and 3.7 miles from Blaencelyn). Called Ysgol T Llew Jones, this is a popular school and offers a bilingual education for children.

For secondary education, children in Pontgarreg and Blaencelyn can go to either Newcastle Emlyn or to Llandysul’s Ysgol Bro Teifi, which is a purpose built combined primary and secondary school opened in 2016.

Another option for further education, apprenticeships or online study, is Coleg Ceredigion in Cardigan. This offers a fantastic choice of both academic and practical courses, including part time study. Take a look at their website to view the latest prospectus.

Aberystwyth University (27 miles from Blaencelyn, 28 miles from Pontgarreg) is also a good choice if you or your child are interested in university education close to home. Attracting students from around the world, it offers a wide choice of undergraduate, postgraduate and lifelong learning courses.

If you have a child with severe learning difficulties or autism, we would also recommend Canolfan y Don at Aberporth School. This school has an excellent reputation, providing specialist facilities and an experienced team to support children up to the age of 11. 

Transport

This part of West Wales is very peaceful and rural, and as such you will find that there is no train service. Public transport is provided by buses, however these may not be as frequent as you require to access all of the amenities in the wider area. We therefore advise all of our clients that if you choose to live or work in this area a car is necessary.

Find Out More…

Thinking about making the move to Pontgarreg or Blaencelyn? We’ve helped hundreds of people find their dream homes here in West Wales. Get in touch with us on 01239 562 500 to discuss your property requirements and how we can help.

You can also find out more about the services and activities in West Wales and Cardigan Bay on these other websites – 

• Things to Do – Click Here
• Primary schools – Click Here
• Transport – Click Here and Here
• Property management and lettings – Click Here