Set just a few miles south of the market town of Newcastle Emlyn (10-15 minute drive depending on where you live), the three small villages of Capel Iwan, Cwmcych and Llwyndrain are surrounded by rolling hills and picturesque countryside. With a choice of both traditional and modern homes for sale in the area, there’s something to suit all tastes here.

The area offers easy access to the beautiful coast of Cardigan Bay and the historic town of Cardigan (around 25-30 minute drive), while having lower property prices than the coastal towns and villages, will help to make your budget go further.   

If you’re looking for a home for sale in Ceredigion or Pembrokeshire, read on to discover more about life in these villages. You can also explore the other villages where we have properties for sale in our location guides. If you’d like to discuss your property search, please get in touch with Helen or Tania and we’ll be happy to help.

History

The history of this part of West Wales dates back to the prehistoric period – remains of which can still be seen in the nearby Preseli Hills. In fact, take a walk here and you can visit Foel Drygarn, an Iron Age hill fort which is home to three Bronze Age burial cairns. Roman pottery has also been found here.

More recently, the surrounding area was a key part of the Welsh woollen industry, with the River Cych and its tributaries powering many of the mills that produced woollen cloth and blankets. The mill upstream from Cwmcych – at Cwm Morgan – has been restored, and in Cwmcych you can also see the Grade II listed bridge, Pont Cych, dating from 1737.

In Capel Iwan, there’s a pretty chapel – the original was built in 1723 and it was then rebuilt in 1795 before the present chapel was built in 1846, although it has been modified further over the years.

Tourism & Recreation

One of the major attractions of moving to this part of West Wales is the incredible choice of activities and attractions that are available on your doorstep.

The countryside here is home to quiet roads – loved by road cyclists – as well as plenty of trails and bridleways for mountain bikers, walkers and horse riders. The Preseli Hills offer plenty of tracks to explore, while a little further away, along the Cardigan Bay coast, the Ceredigion Coastal Path, runs 60 miles from Cardigan in the south to Ynyslas in the north.

This part of the Welsh coastline also opens up a whole world of water sports. Surfing is very popular here, with many residents choosing to head to the beach at the weekends or even after work. If you’re new to the sport there are plenty of surf schools where you can take lessons. Alternatively, why not try windsurfing, paddle boarding, water skiing, kayaking, sailing or fishing – there is something for everyone! 

If you prefer to stay on dry land then there are some of the UK’s most beautiful beaches located within about half an hour of these villages. Poppit Sands is a lovely sandy beach backed by dunes; Aberporth Beach  has two sandy beaches with rock pools; Penbryn Beach is owned by the National Trust; while the gorgeous Tresaith Beach offers the chance to see the Tresaith Waterfalls – and if you enjoy sailing then the Tresaith Mariners – a catamaran and dinghy sailing club – welcomes new members.

Visit the coast and you’ll also have the chance to spot some of the fabulous marine life and bird life that make their homes here. Look out for bottlenose dolphins, porpoises, seals and maybe even a leatherback turtle.

If you’re fascinated by history then both Newcastle Emlyn and Cardigan have historic castles and plenty of insights into the Welsh past, while a little further away in the Preseli Hills you can see evidence of the Bronze Age and Iron Age.

For fitness enthusiasts, Newcastle Emlyn has a swimming pool and gym at the Leisure Centre. The centre offers a choice of swimming and aqua fitness sessions, fitness classes, and facilities such as squash courts, an athletics track and table tennis.

Also in this area is the Teifi Valley Railway, a narrow gauge railway with a steam engine that offers a two-mile ride through the countryside. Other activities here include crazy golf, a play area and a cafe, ensuring it is always popular with families.

Shopping

If you’re searching for a house for sale in Cardigan Bay, then you want to be sure you are looking in the right location for your requirements. 

The closest shops to these villages are in Newcastle Emlyn, where you’ll find most of the shops and services you need.  Part of the charm of this town is that it has plenty of independent shops, including butchers selling local meats, clothes shops, jewellery stores, and the fabulous Cardigan Bay Brownies – definitely one not to miss! There’s also the popular Soap Shack which sells handmade soaps, while for essential supplies there’s a Co-op Food store, and you’ll find a Post Office here too.

In the countryside surrounding these villages you should also take time to visit the Caws Cenarth Cheese Shop, which makes and sells a range of fabulous artisan cheeses.

For larger supermarkets, you can head to Cardigan (about 25 minutes away), and here you’ll find a Tesco, an Aldi and a Spar. A historic market town, Cardigan also has plenty of smaller, independent shops selling everything from clothing and surf gear to gifts and flowers. It also has the Grade II listed Guildhall Market, which has over 50 specialist stalls – a great place to explore!

In Cardigan, there are also branches of Lloyds, Barclays and HSBC for any financial requirements you may have.

Eating & Drinking

West Wales has a growing reputation for good, locally produced food and drinks, including artisan beers. If you choose to live in Capel Iwan, Cwmcych or Llwyndrain then you’ll find a good selection of restaurants, cafes and takeaways in Newcastle Emlyn, as well as local pubs and restaurants in the surrounding countryside. 

In Newcastle Emlyn you should definitely try Y Cwtch Coffi for delicious coffees, smoothies, sandwiches and homemade cakes. Alternatively, head to Harrison’s Brasserie, which is open as a cafe in the day and a steak restaurant in the evening. Here you can enjoy a lovely setting in the riverside garden, overlooking the River Teifi.

There’s also a choice of local pubs serving beers and food – try Y Sgwar or if not The Three Compasses – and it has takeaways such as China Kitchen, Moes Spice or the Moonlight Indian Restaurant.

On the far side of Newcastle Emlyn, in Adpar, pop into the Riverside Cafe, which serves a great range of vegetarian food such as Buddha bowls, veggie burgers, cakes and more. 

Elsewhere, you can enjoy local lamb, fish and chips, pasta and other dishes at the Nag’s Head in Abercych, and there’s the traditional Penrhiw Inn, which has a good choice of beers. The tourist hotspot of Cenarth is also just a short drive away, where you’ll find the Three Horseshoes Inn & Steakhouse, the White Hart Inn with its traditional pub menu and the Ty Te Tea Rooms, which has delicious homemade cakes.

Healthcare

One of the good things about these villages is their close proximity to Newcastle Emlyn where you’ll find a range of medical services.

To register with a GP,  you’ll find the closest one at the Meddygfa Emlyn medical practice on Lloyds Terrace. This surgery is open Monday to Friday from 8.00am to 6.30pm and, as well as GPs, it has nurse practitioners and a range of specialist clinics.

There are also two dental practices to choose from – Emlyn Dental Care, located on Church Lane, and Teifi Dental Centre at Emlyn Square, as well as two pharmacies – a Boots Pharmacy and the Bridge Pharmacy.

If you have animals then you’ll also find a vet in Newcastle Emlyn. The Castle House veterinary practice is open Monday to Friday from 8.30am to 5.30pm, and on Saturday from 9.00am to 1.00pm.

Finally, if you are looking for a first-class chiropractor we would recommend West Wales Chiropractors in Blaenporth (about 10 miles away).

Schools

If you’re moving to the area with children, then you’ll find a choice of excellent schools in the region. Which school your children attend is determined by where you live, and for these villages, you’ll find primary schools in Newcastle Emlyn – Ysgol Y Ddwylan, and Llanfyrnach – Ysgol Clydau.

As your children get older, in Newcastle Emlyn there is Ysgol Gyfun Emlyn, a secondary school with a good reputation, which also provides a range of extra-curricular activities including the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme.

For further education or apprenticeships, there is Coleg Ceredigion in Cardigan, which offers a wide choice of full-time, part-time and online courses – everything from hospitality and health to ICT and furniture design is available.

If you or your child are considering university then the closest one to this area is the well-respected University of Aberystwyth, which is just over one hour away. Offering many study options, and both undergraduate and postgraduate courses, it attracts students from around the world.

Finally, if you have a young child with severe learning difficulties, disabilities or autism, we can’t speak highly enough of Canolfan y Don at Aberporth School (15 – 20 minutes from these villages). It welcomes children up to the age of 11 and has a range of specialist facilities.

Transport

This is a very rural part of West Wales, but some of the villages are connected by bus. In this area Capel Iwan has the Bwcabus service 615 connecting it to Newcastle Emlyn, however, if you live in Cwmcych or Llwyndrain there is currently no bus service to these villages.

Wherever you live though, a car is necessary to access all of the facilities and attractions of the surrounding areas.

Also worth knowing is that these villages are around a 45-minute drive from Fishguard, which has a rail service connecting to both Swansea and Cardiff. You can find out more about the timings here.

Fishguard Harbour also has regular ferry services with Stena Line to Rosslare in Ireland.

Find out more…

There are lots of beautiful towns and villages in West Wales. If you’d like to discuss your property search, then Cardigan Bay Properties is a specialist estate agent in Ceredigion. We’re always on hand to offer advice and information, so please get in touch on 01239 562 500 if you’re thinking about moving to this beautiful area.

You can also find out more about the area by looking at these other websites – 

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