Located just four miles from the picturesque coastal town of Aberaeron, the small village of Ciliau Aeron is also close to the beautiful National Trust property of Llanerchaeron, and set by the meandering River Aeron. 

The Dylan Thomas Trail passes through the village, and there are several facilities including a small primary school, a garden nursery and an organic farm shop, adding to the appeal for house hunters looking for a home for sale in Ceredigion. 

If you’d like to find out more about living in Ciliau Aeron, please keep reading, or get in touch with us to discuss your property search. For information on the many other towns and villages of West Wales, take a look at our location guides.  

History 

With a rich and varied history, West Wales has plenty to explore. Ciliau Aeron is set on the left bank of the River Aeron and its name ‘Ciliau’ comes from the Welsh for ‘corners’, referring to the many corners of the Aeron. 

The local Tyglyn Aeron Hotel was once the home of the poet and writer Evelyn Anna Lewes and in the 1930s T. S. Elliot is said to have holidayed here, while the Dylan Thomas Trail recognises the importance of the area for one of Wales’ best known writers and poets. The dockworker-poet was also born in Ciliau Aeron in 1799, underlining the area’s literary importance. 

The most well-known historical building here is The National Trust’s Llanerchaeron, a striking Georgian villa designed by John Nash in 1790 and hardly changed for over 200 years. 

Tourism & Recreation 

A popular holiday spot, thanks to its picturesque setting and proximity to Cardigan Bay, the area around Ciliau Aeron has a choice of tourist accommodation – which can be helpful if you’re coming to Ceredigion to house hunt. 

One of the most famous attractions is Llanerchaeron, and you can visit this historic house with its servant quarters, farm buildings and beautiful walled garden and parkland. 

Beyond this there are plenty of opportunities to get out and explore on foot, bike and horse back. Walk the Dylan Thomas Trail from Llanon to New Quay; head to the coast and discover the Ceredigion Coastal Path, which takes you 60 miles from Cardigan in the south to Ynyslas in the north; or simply take a stroll alongside the banks of the lovely River Aeron. 

Road cyclists will love the quiet lanes of this part of West Wales, while mountain bikers have plenty of tracks and bridleways to explore in the rolling countryside, including the Aeron Trail. Horse riders too will love the beauty of this area, and close by you’ll find the Celaeron Equestrian Centre and the Bitless Equestrian Centre, alongside various studs.  

At the coast you’ll be able to enjoy a choice of beaches at picturesque Aberaeron, with its colourful houses and shops. A little further south is charming Llangrannog, which actually has two beaches and is very popular with families and surfers. 

If you want a bit more action then you’ll find plenty of water sports available. Surfing is one of the most popular, with Cardigan Bay boasting some of the best surf spots in the UK.  

Other water sports available include kitesurfing, wakeboarding, sailing, kayaking and paddle boarding. In nearby New Quay (about 20 minutes away), Cardigan Bay Watersports at Harbour Beach offers lessons and kit rental for various activities, with a qualified and professional team. 

Whenever you’re at the coast, don’t forget to keep an eye out for some of the incredible wildlife such as the dolphins and seals who live in the waters of Cardigan Bay, as well as birds such as oystercatchers and herons. 

You may also be interested to know about the Ty Glyn Davis Trust, a unique self-catering holiday centre and gardens for people with special needs. Set in beautiful woodland gardens beside the River Aeron, it offers full wheelchair access. The walled garden is also open to the public from 10.00 to dusk – it’s free of charge, although donations are welcome. 

Other attractions and activities in the wider area include Felinfach Football Club, which has junior and senior teams, and Theatr Felinfach, which works with schools and communities in the area.  

There’s also the Marine Wildlife Centre in New Quay, a non profit organisation that works to preserve the marine wildlife of Cardigan Bay, while the Allt Pencnwc Nature Reserve near Ystrad Aeron (2.5 miles away) is a beautiful area to discover woodland birds such as the Great Spotted Woodpecker. 

Finally, if you enjoy working out in a gym, the Sir Geraint Evans Leisure Centre in Aberaeron has classes such as spinning and circuits, while Lampeter Leisure Centre has a swimming pool, a gym and an astro turf pitch. 

Shopping 

There are some lovely local shops in the area around Ciliau Aeron. For grocery shopping, Aberaeron has a Costcutter, while the village of Felinfach (3 miles away) also has a Costcutter and a Post Office. Just outside Ciliau Aeron you’ll also find the Blaencamel Farm Shop, which grows and sells organic produce.  

Another food store that should definitely be on your radar is Watson & Pratts organic food stores in Aberaeron. This shop is well known in the area and sells everything from bread and pastries, to local fruit and veg, as well as serving breakfast, lunch and freshly made coffee. 

Other shops worth visiting in Aberaeron include the Aberaeron Craft Centre, which has a range of stores selling all sorts of handmade items. There’s also a choice of gift shops such as Driftwood Designs and Elephants & Bananas, as well as clothes shops such as Partridge and Parr. 

Other specialist shops in the area around Ciliau Aeron include Enjays Beauty and GG Designs embroidery service, while in Llanarth (6 miles away) there are Premier Express and Costcutter convenience stores, as well as a butcher, a petrol station and Llanarth Garden Centre.  

Eating & Drinking 

Set close to beautiful Cardigan Bay and with picturesque rolling countryside, it’s no surprise that West Wales has a growing reputation for fabulous fish and meats. 

In Aberaeron there’s no shortage of cafes and restaurants, which are popular with tourists as well as locals. Try The Hive for breakfast, lunch or dinner, with the menu including small plates, burgers and fresh fish dishes – and don’t miss its famous honey ice cream! There’s also the award winning New Celtic Restaurant; Naturally Scrumptious, which is a deli and cafe serving homemade food and selling a range of foodie products; and Llond Plât for great fish and chips.  

Osteria 1815 is also a fantastic Italian restaurant, located in an historical coach house at the Feathers Royal  Hotel  – a lovely place to stay if you’re coming to the area to find a house for sale in Ceredigion. 

In the smaller villages in the surrounding countryside you’ll also find some hidden gems. Head to The Gilfach Inn in Mydroilyn for a traditional village pub feel, or try the Vale of Aeron pub in Ystrad Aeron, which was once frequented by Dylan Thomas.  

In Llanarth the Llanina Arms Hotel has a restaurant serving home made food and also offers rooms; at Llwyncelyn (just over 4 miles away) The Moody Cow is a bistro and farm shop that serves some great steaks and burgers; while The Cambrian Inn and Restaurant is set between Gilfachrheda and New Quay and has a Sunday carvery. 

Healthcare 

The Integrated Care Centre at Aberaeron includes the Tanyfron Surgery, which is open from 8.00am until 6.15pm Monday to Friday. Here there are doctors and nurse practitioners, who also run a range of clinics such as antenatal, flu vaccines and minor surgery. Aberaeron also has two pharmacies – a Lloyds Pharmacy and a Boots Pharmacy. 

For dental care, the closest dentists are in Lampeter where there is the Pont Steffan Dental Practice on North Road or (my)dentist on Market Place. 

We would also highly recommend West Wales Chiropractors in Blaenporth (around 18 miles away) for any back troubles that you may have. 

Finally, if you are moving to the area with pets or other animals then Ciliau Aeron has its own veterinary practice – Aeron Vets. 

Schools 

The village of Ciliau Aeron currently has a small primary school – Ysgol Ciliau Parc, however plans are in place to build a brand new school for the Aeron Valley, which is currently scheduled to open in 2024 to replace three primary schools including Ciliau Parc. 

As children get older, secondary education takes place at the Aberaeron Comprehensive School, which has a good reputation and provides a bilingual education and a range of subjects including engineering, history, textiles and drama. 

For further education, the Lampeter Campus of the University of Wales Trinity Saint David offers full time, part time, online and distance learning. Courses at the Lampeter campus range from History and Greek to Nursing Studies and Philosophy. 

University education is also available locally at Aberystwyth University, which is less than one hour to the north along the coast of Cardigan Bay. The university welcomes students from around the world, providing an international environment, and offers undergraduate, postgraduate and online courses. 

For parents whose child has educational needs such as severe learning difficulties or autism, we would highly recommend Canolfan y Don at Aberporth Primary School, about half an hour away.  For secondary schooling Canolfan Y Bont is part of Ysgol Bro Pedr at Lampeter and provides education for children with a range of educational needs. 

Transport 

Moving to this beautiful part of West Wales will mean having a car as there are no train services and while there are bus services, these are limited. The service for Ciliau Aeron is the T1, which connects Carmarthen to Aberystwyth, with the route also stopping in larger towns such as Aberaeron and Lampeter. 

Find Out More 

We’re very proud to be an award winning, specialist estate agent in Ceredigion, Pembrokeshire and Carmarthenshire. To help your property search please call us on 01239 562 500 or get in touch through our website. It may also be helpful to take a look at these other websites –  

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