Set between Newcastle Emlyn and Llandysul, these three villages are surrounded by beautiful Welsh countryside, while being just a short drive from amenities such as leisure centres, shops and restaurants. 

Henllan is home to the Teifi Valley Railway, a popular tourist attraction, and with great walking and cycling along the River Teifi, as well as the stunning coast of Cardigan Bay around 20 minutes away, it’s no wonder that this area is attracting a growing number of house hunters. 

To find a house for sale in Ceredigion, please get in touch with us and we’ll be happy to discuss your search. You can also read more about the other towns and villages of west Wales in our location guides. 

History 

The rich, varied history of West Wales ranges from ancient myths and legends, through to the more modern railways and woollen mills. This part of Ceredigion is no different, with plenty to discover. 

In old Welsh, Henllan means ‘old church enclosure’, and during World War II there was a prisoner of war camp here, which you can now visit. The prisoners built the village’s Catholic chapel – Capel Eidalwyr. While the railways once connected Henllan to other towns in the area, today the old railway station is the centre for the Vale of Teifi Railway Preservation Society.  

In Llangeler there is a church dedicated to St Celer, who lived in the 7th century in the nearby woods. At one time there was a holy well – Ffynnon Celer – near the churchyard – as well as an ancient stone, Yr Hen Lech, which was said to have healing powers. Those who were ill bathed in the waters of the holy well and then slept on the stone to try to recover. In Francis Jones’ book – Holy Wells of Wales – he wrote that there were nine holy wells in the parish of Llangeler alone, but the exact locations of many have been lost over time. 

Tourism & Recreation 

This part of West Wales offers plenty of activities and attractions for residents, with Newcastle Emlyn, Llanduysul, Cardigan and the Cardigan Bay coast all within easy reach. From fabulous cycling and walking to historic sites and water sports, there’s something for everyone! 

At Henllan, you can walk from the three-arched Henllan bridge, to the beautiful Henllan Falls, while if you’re looking for more strenuous walking then you could try the famed Ceredigion Coastal Path, which runs 60 miles from Cardigan in the south to Ynyslas in the north. From Newcastle Emlyn you should also walk to the famed Cenarth Falls (about eight miles there and back).  

There’s plenty for cyclists too, with the quiet roads and picturesque countryside attracting road cyclists, and the bridleways and tracks popular with mountain bikers. Horse riding is also very popular here, with the Starlight Riding Centre located just on the other side of Newcastle Emlyn from these villages. 

Not far away, the stunning coast of Cardigan Bay has some of the UK’s best beaches, as well as the added attraction of the chance to see the dolphins and seals that live in the waters.  

The closest beaches to these villages include Penbryn, which the National Trust says is one of Ceredigion’s best-kept secrets, with its golden sand. Alternatively, Tresaith Beach is known for the Tresaith Waterfalls – created where the River Saith flows over the cliff tops and into the sea. The beaches at Llangrannog and Aberporth are also popular with families and surfers. 

Being so close to the coast, many people here love water sports such as kayaking, kite surfing and sailing, with the Tresaith Mariners a local sailing club. Not surprisingly, surfing is also extremely popular here, so if you’re keen to learn you can easily book lessons. 

You can also enjoy adventure sports with the Llandysul Paddlers, which offers activities including river swimming, canyoning and climbing, all with professional instructors.   

For keen fisherpeople, the Llandysul Angling Association has the rights to over 30 miles of fishing on the River Teifi, with a range of permit types available, while cricketers can join the Llandysul Cricket Club. 

There’s a leisure centre in Newcastle Emlyn, with a swimming pool that also offers aqua fitness sessions; book in for general fitness courses; or use the squash courts or athletics track. Llandysul also has a leisure centre with a swimming pool. 

For a taste of history, head to Newcastle Emlyn with its ruined castle, or take a ride on the narrow gauge Teifi Valley Railway, which provides a two-mile ride aboard a train pulled by a steam engine – plus there’s crazy golf, a play area and a cafe here. You can also arrange to visit the Henllan Bridge Prisoner of War Camp, which housed 1200 Italians during World War II. 

Shopping 

There are some lovely specialist shops in this corner of West Wales! In Henllan head to Shipp & Co Hampers for lovely sustainable gifts and hampers, and of course, there’s the fantastic Leeky Barrel for foodie products, including the delicious Celtic wines. There are also shops for the home, including Bedwen Plant Nursery for your garden and Stove Works Wales if you want to add a stove to your new home.  

If you love beautiful pottery then you should also visit the Gwili Pottery at Llangeler, which produces hand-crafted, hand-painted pottery. 

For more choice and general shopping, Newcastle Emlyn or Llandysul are the closest towns. 

Newcastle Emlyn has a Co-op Food and a Premier convenience store, as well as a good choice of independent shops. The Welsh Wool Shop sells blankets, throws, gifts and knitting essentials, while the Soap Shack specialises in handmade soaps and bath products. There’s also a Fair & Fabulous gift shop and The Makers Mark craft shop, as well as local butchers, clothes shops and jewellery stores. In Llandysul there’s a Spar and a CK Foodstore, as well as a butcher, a fruit shop, and an antiques shop.  

For the larger supermarket chains – Tesco, Aldi and Spar – you’ll need to drive to Cardigan (about 25/30 minutes away). A popular tourist town thanks to its castle and historic centre, this pretty market town also has a good choice of independent shops, including surf shops, clothes shops, butchers and hairdressers. There’s also the Grade II listed Guildhall Market, which has over 50 specialist stalls and a cafe..  

In Cardigan there are also branches of Lloyds, Barclays and HSBC, however, Lloyds Bank also currently offers a mobile banking service that regularly comes to Newcastle Emlyn. 

Eating & Drinking 

Being surrounded by beautiful countryside means there’s plenty of fresh produce on offer in this part of West Wales, and that’s found in the various restaurants, cafes and pubs you can try. 

In Henllan we think you’ll love The Leeky Barrel Welsh Bistro and Shop, which sells some fabulous foodie items and serves Welsh lunches, teas, coffees and desserts. Close to Llangeler, take a drive to the Plas Parke Inn, a family-run pub and restaurant which serves a good Sunday lunch. 

In Llandysul try the fantastic Nyth Y Robin, which is both an antique and bookshop that also serves a range of food and drinks, including delicious breakfasts and cakes. Alternatively head to Buon Appetito, which has delicious Italian coffees as well as a range of deli products. Llandysul also has a choice of pubs such as the King’s Arms, and takeaways including the Taj Llandysul, Dan l’Sang, and Pizza Choice. 

Head to Newcastle Emlyn and you’ll find Y Cwtch Coffi which is a great choice for coffee and cakes, or visit Harrison’s Brasserie, which has a lovely riverside garden beside the River Teifi – it’s open as a cafe in the day and a steak restaurant in the evening. This town also has several pubs that also serve food, including the Bunch of Grapes, Y Sgwar and The Three Compasses. Newcastle Emlyn also has takeaways such as China Kitchen or the Moonlight Indian Restaurant. 

If you’re looking for somewhere a bit special then the Daffodil Inn – in the pretty village of Penrhiw-llan (around 10 minutes from these villages) – is a lovely pub that serves fresh food using local ingredients. 

Healthcare 

Finding a GP and dentist will probably be top of your list once you’ve found your home for sale in Ceredigion, and living in this area you have a choice depending where you choose to live. 

In Newcastle Emlyn Meddygfa Emlyn is the medical practice that serves the town and it’s located on Lloyd Terrace. Open Monday to Friday from 8.00am to 6.30pm, it provides both morning and afternoon surgeries in addition to a range of specialist clinics. 

If you live closer to Llandysul, then the Llynyfran Surgery may be more convenient. The medical team here also offers a number of specialist clinics and there are e-consultations for items such as sick notes and test results.  

For a dentist, Newcastle Emlyn has two dental practices – Emlyn Dental Care, located on Church Lane, and Teifi Dental Centre at Emlyn Square, while Llandysul has the Cottage Dental Practice at Rhydowen. 

Newcastle Emlyn and Llandysul each have two pharmacies – a Boots Pharmacy and the Bridge Pharmacy in Newcastle Emlyn, and a Lloyds Pharmacy or the Boots Pharmacy in Llandysul. 

Animals are also well cared for with the Castle House veterinary practice in the Adpar area of Newcastle Emlyn, or Tysul Vets in Llandysul. 

Finally, if you are looking for an experienced chiropractor we would recommend West Wales Chiropractors in Blaenporth (about 20 to 25 minutes away). 

Schools 

West Wales offers rural living and good schools. Where you live will determine where your children go to school – either in Newcastle Emlyn or Llandysul. 

If your children are of primary school age then Newcastle Emlyn has Ysgol Y Ddwylan, which offers bilingual (English/Welsh) education, while In Llandysul children go to Ysgol Bro Teifi – opened in 2016 to provide both primary and secondary education and a range of facilities such as a theatre, an astroturf sports field and a recording studio. 

For families looking for further education for their children – or for the parents – this area offers several choices. The Coleg Ceredigion in Cardigan (about 25/30 minutes away) offers both academic and practical courses, with courses ranging from ICT and business to furniture design and beauty. 

Alternatively, the University of Wales Trinity St David has a campus in Lampeter (around 30 minutes away), which offers undergraduate and postgraduate courses as well as part-time, distance learning and apprenticeships. 

Finally, The University of Aberystwyth is around one hour away and has a choice of undergraduate, postgraduate and lifelong learning courses available. 

For children who have severe learning difficulties or autism then we highly recommend Canolfan y Don school at Aberporth (around 25 minutes from these villages). This specialist school has an excellent range of facilities and welcomes children up to the age of 11. 

Transport 

Sadly the train services in this part of West Wales closed many years ago, so the bus services are the main form of public transport. The 460 service connects Henllan to Newcastle Emlyn, Cardigan and Carmarthen, but to make the most of living in this rural area you will need a car. 

You can find out more about the region’s bus routes and timings by using this journey planner.  

Find Out More 

Cardigan Bay Properties is an award-winning, specialist estate agency in Ceredigion and Pembrokeshire. We’ve lived and worked in the area all of our lives and are here to help you find your perfect property. Please call us on 01239 562 500 to discuss your property search. 

You can also find out more about the villages of rural West Wales and Cardigan Bay on these other websites –  

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