The three villages of Bwlch Y Groes, Clydey and Star are set between Crymych (around 10 minutes away) and the market town of Newcastle Emlyn (less than 20 minutes away), and offer a range of both older and newer homes for sale. 

Providing Welsh country living, along with easy access to amenities such as shops and restaurants, this area is proving increasingly popular with house hunters. Together with their proximity to the beautiful Cardigan Bay coast, and the historic town of Cardigan (less than 20 minutes away), whichever of these villages you choose to live in you’ll find something for all the family. 

If you’re thinking about looking for a home for sale in Ceredigion, Pembrokeshire or Carmarthenshire, you can find out more about these and other West Wales villages in our location guides. Please get in touch with Helen or Tania to discuss your property search further. 

History 

These villages are set in an area offering incredible historical interest, located between Ceredigion and Pembrokeshire. The Kingdom of Ceredigion emerged in the mid-5th Century, in post-Roman Britain, and was one of several Welsh kingdoms. Its translation means ‘the people of Ceredig’. 

Similarly, Pembrokeshire has a long history dating back between 125,000 and 70,000 years. More recently, during the heatwave in 2018, a first Century Celtic chariot burial site was discovered  – the first such find in Wales. The Preseli Hills are also home to prehistoric remains, as well as an Iron Age hill fort – Foel Drygarn, and Bronze Age burial cairns. 

More recent history is apparent in the towns and villages, with the Welsh woollen industry a key part of the economy here for many years – the River Cych, which runs close to these villages, was used to power many of the mills. 

Tourism & Recreation 

Whatever your age and stage, this beautiful part of West Wales will have something for you to enjoy, from gentle walks along the coastline, to challenging hiking or mountain biking in the spectacular Preseli Hills, as well as water sports in Cardigan Bay, horse riding, fishing and more. 

A popular attraction is the Ceredigion Coastal Path, which takes in 60 miles of stunning coast, from Cardigan in the south to Ynyslas in the north. The quiet roads are also loved by road cyclists, while keen equestrians will find a choice of bridleways to explore. You should also take a walk to the beautiful Ffynone Waterfall and maybe even try wild swimming here! 

Being less than 12 miles from the coast, many people here also enjoy water sports. The area is famed for surfing, with a great choice of surf spots depending on the conditions. If surfing isn’t your thing, then there’s also windsurfing, paddle boarding, water skiing, kayaking, and sailing – the Tresaith Mariners is a catamaran and dinghy sailing club if you’re keen to take part. 

This stretch of the UK coastline also has some of the country’s best beaches. Around 25 minutes away is beautiful Poppit Sands, a sandy beach backed by dunes; while just slightly further is picturesque Aberporth where you can relax on a choice of two sandy beaches and explore the rock pools. Other beaches nearby include Gwbert,  Penbryn beach, which is owned by the National Trust, and Tresaith Beach with its stunning waterfalls. 

The coastline here is also home to some incredible wildlife, including dolphins, porpoises, seals and, if you’re lucky, you may even spot a leatherback turtle. 

Other attractions in the area include the historic castles at Newcastle Emlyn and Cardigan, as well as the incredible Bronze Age and Iron Age history that can be seen in the Preseli Hills. 

For rugby players, Crymych Rugby Club welcomes new players, and the town also has a leisure centre with a swimming pool, gym and a sports hall. Newcastle Emlyn also has a leisure centre with a swimming pool, which offers a range of swimming lessons and aqua fitness sessions, and it also has a gym and fitness classes, squash courts, an athletics track and table tennis.  

If singing is more your thing, then Crymych has a choir which performs at various festivals and events. If you’d like to find out more you can follow their Facebook page. 

There’s also the unique Cilwendeg Shell House Hermitage to explore. Originally built in the 1820s, this Grade II listed building is now owned by The Temple Trust, which has carried out a detailed renovation project on it. You can visit the house by booking in advance.  

Finally, not far away 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, making it a good day out for families. 

Shopping 

While you won’t find any shops in these villages, you don’t need to travel far to buy everything from groceries to craft supplies – and, if you have animals, there’s Bwlchygroes Farm Feeds for farm and agricultural supplies. 

One of the closest grocery stores is in Boncath (around three miles away), where there’s a village shop and Post Office. Otherwise Crymych offers a Spar and a Nisa Local, which both sell a wide range of grocery items. Crymych also has some interesting independent shops including Tŷ Bach Twt for gifts and homewares and Siop Siân for items such as jewellery and candles. There’s also a healthfood shop – Bwyd y Byd, which does a range of hampers. CJ’s Equestrian sells a wide range of items if you own horses, while electrical items and household appliances are available at D E Philips & Sons. 

Newcastle Emlyn also has some good shops, including bakers, butchers selling local meats, jewellery stores and more. For groceries you’ll find a Co-op Food store, and there’s a Post Office in the town too.  

In the surrounding 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 and more amenities, Cardigan (less than 20 minutes away) has everything you need including a Tesco, an Aldi and a Spar. This historic market town also has plenty of specialist retailers to explore, including clothing, surf and gift shops. You’ll also find hairdressers and beauty salons here, as well as the Grade II listed Guildhall Market, which has over 50 specialist stalls to discover. 

In Cardigan there are also branches of Lloyds, Barclays and HSBC. 

Eating & Drinking 

With fabulous meats, bred on the Welsh hills, alongside artisan bakeries and beer producers, West Wales has a growing reputation for fantastic, locally produced food and drinks. 

At the nearby village of Abercych (just over four miles away) you can try the lovely Nag’s Head, which serves local lamb and steaks as well as pulled Welsh beef nachos. Alternatively, the traditional Penrhiw Inn has a good choice of beers, while at the neighbouring village of Newchapel, visit the Ffynnone Arms, which has traditional dishes such as steak and onion pie. 

In Crymych the charming Crymych Arms Inn serves homemade food, while Blasus is a popular coffee shop that has delicious coffees, teas and milkshakes, as well as food including daily specials. Crymych also has some takeaways such as Y Badell Ffrio on Newport Road for freshly made fish and chips. 

One place not to miss near Crymych is Mary’s Farmhouse, where you’ll find delicious ice cream, made locally and sold throughout Wales.  

In Newcastle Emlyn, enjoy a coffee and cake at Y Cwtch Coffi, or head to Harrison’s Brasserie, which is open as a cafe in the day and a steak restaurant in the evening. This restaurant has a lovely setting overlooking the River Teifi. In the Adpar area of the town you can also enjoy the Riverside Cafe, which serves vegetarian food such as buddha bowls, veggie burgers, cakes and more. For takeaways try China Kitchen, Moes Spice or the Moonlight Indian Restaurant. 

The tourist hotspot of Cenarth is also around five miles away, providing additional eating and drinking options. The Three Horseshoes Inn & Steakhouse serves local steaks, while the White Hart Inn has a traditional pub menu and the Tŷ Te Tea Rooms is worth visiting for home made cakes. 

Healthcare 

Once you’ve found your perfect house for sale in Pembrokeshire, Ceredigion or Carmarthenshire, checking on local healthcare services is a common next step. These villages benefit from easy access to both Crymych and Newcastle Emlyn, and you’ll find medical centres in both of these towns. 

The medical centre in Crymych provides a range of services, including face to face or telephone consultations. The Crymych Surgery is open Monday to Friday from 8.00am to 5.30pm. Alternatively, in Newcastle Emlyn there’s the Meddygfa Emlyn medical practice on Lloyds Terrace. This 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. 

Crymych has the E P Parry Pharmacy, located on Main Street, which is open six days a week, with various opening times. Newcastle Emlyn also has two pharmacies – a Boots Pharmacy and the Well Pharmacy. 

For dental care, the closest dentists are in Newcastle Emlyn – Emlyn Dental Care, located on Church Lane, and Teifi Dental Centre at Emlyn Square. 

There are also veterinary practices in both Crymych and Newcastle Emlyn. In Crymych, the Priory Vets is located on High Street and is open five days a week from 8.30am until 5.30pm. The Castle House veterinary practice in Newcastle Emlyn 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 help with a back problem, we highly recommend West Wales Chiropractors in Blaenporth (about 20 minutes away). 

Schools 

The closest primary school to these villages is at Tegryn/Llanfyrnach – Ysgol Clydau, which is a bilingual school. There are also primary schools in both Newcastle Emlyn – Ysgol Y Ddwylan, and Crymych – Ysgol Bro Preseli, which is a combined primary and secondary school. 

There is also a secondary school in Newcastle Emlyn – Ysgol Gyfun Emlyn, which offers a range of extra-curricular activities including the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme. Where you choose to live will determine which school your children attend. 

This area also offers easy access to further education, with the well respected Coleg Ceredigion in Cardigan offering full time, part time and online courses in everything from healthcare and beauty to business and furniture design. 

There’s also the acclaimed University of Aberystwyth just over one hour away. Welcoming students from across the UK, Europe and beyond, there is a choice of study options, and both undergraduate and postgraduate courses. 

Finally, if you have a young child with severe learning difficulties, disabilities or autism, we would highly recommend Canolfan y Don at Aberporth School (around 25 minutes from these villages). It welcomes children up to the age of 11 and has an experienced team and a range of specialist facilities. 

Transport 

Living in this beautiful rural area you will need a car to access all of the facilities and amenities in Newcastle Emlyn, Crymych and Cardigan. 

One key attraction of this area is its proximity to Fishguard (about 35 minutes away), 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… 

We love the lifestyle on offer in West Wales and if you’re thinking of moving here then we can help you find the right home for you. If you’d like to discuss your property search, we are a specialist estate agent covering Ceredigion, Pembrokeshire and Carmarthenshire. We’re always on hand to offer advice and information, so please get in touch on 01239 562 500. 

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

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