Located close to the historic market town of Cardigan and just a short drive from beautiful beaches such as Poppit Sands and the clean waters of Cardigan Bay, the small villages of Cippyn, Moylgrove (or Moylegrove) and Monington are attracting a growing number of house hunters.

The villages of Cippyn and Monington are around four miles from Cardigan, while Moylgrove is six miles, making it easy for residents to access the shops, restaurants and amenities of this pretty town.

Read on to discover more about these three villages, or get in touch with Helen and Tania to discuss your property search. You can also read more about the other villages of West Wales in our location guides.

History

West Wales, Pembrokeshire and Cardigan Bay are awash with history – dating from prehistoric times through to the Iron Age, the Middle Ages and to more recent developments with the railways. You don’t need to drive far from these villages to see evidence of prehistoric occupation – there are several burnt mounds, which archaeologists believe date back to this period. In addition, the Preseli Mountains are just a short drive away. Here you’ll find prehistoric remains, as well as ruins of burial cairns from the Bronze Age and Iron Age hill forts.

In around 1100, this area was brought under Anglo-Norman control and was administered from Nevern Castle for many years, before Newport Castle took over the administration in 1536. Farming has always played a strong part in the local economy, but the current farmsteads were only recorded from around the 18th Century.

In St Dogmaels, a pretty tourist town close to Cippyn, you can see St Dogmaels Abbey, which dates back to the 12th century, as well as more than 30 other listed buildings in the town, including the mediaeval flour mill.

Tourism & Recreation

This area offers wonderful scenery, with numerous opportunities for walking, cycling, water sports and wildlife watching. Its close proximity to both the beautiful coastline of West Wales and the historic town of Cardigan bring even more activities and entertainment for residents here.

The famed Pembrokeshire Coastal Path starts in St Dogmaels, close to these villages, and runs south for 186 miles to Amroth. This path also forms part of the beautiful Wales Coast Path and the International Appalachian Trail, giving keen walkers plenty to explore. Alternatively, the Ceredigion Coastal Path heads 60 miles north from Cardigan to Ynyslas.

The area is also hugely popular with cyclists. Road bikers enjoy wonderfully peaceful roads, while for mountain bikers both Pembrokeshire and Ceredigion offer a wide choice of bridleways and tracks. There are also routes following old railway lines and forest tracks, providing something for all ages and fitness levels.

Residents here can also enjoy fabulous beaches just a short drive away. The blue flag Poppit Sands Beach is less than a mile from Cippyn, set at the mouth of the Teifi Estuary and backed by beautiful sand dunes. Its clean waters make it very popular for bathing and has lifeguards during the summer months. It’s also known for power kiting and kite boarding. 

South of these villages you’ll find Newport Sands, loved by water sports enthusiasts. It’s a great place to try sports such as sailing or windsurfing, as well as angling and canoeing.

If you want to go nature spotting head to the wilder and more remote Ceibwr Bay, a small cove of rocks and sand surrounded by high cliffs. While swimming isn’t recommended here you can look out for wildlife such as dolphins, seals, porpoises and a wide range of birds such as little egrets and peregrines.

There are also many beaches for surfing – this part of Wales is renowned for its waves and  surfing is one of the main sports of residents in this area. You’ll also find plenty of shops selling surf gear in and around Cardigan, while if you want to learn or improve your surfing skills lessons are readily available.

If you prefer land based sports then golfers should try Cardigan Golf Club, located just outside Cardigan, close to the pretty village of Gwbert. Listed as one of the top courses to play in Wales, it was founded back in 1895 and offers fabulous views of Cardigan Bay.

Alternatively, you can keep fit in a gym or at classes at the Cardigan Leisure Centre or try Cardigan Swimming and Fitness Centre.

You’ll also find a range of social activities in the different villages. Moylgrove for example has various events such as Bake Offs and local beer evenings, while it also has its Old School Hall, which you can hire for birthdays, weddings or other events. In addition, St. Dogmael’s Abbey hosts events such as Shakespearean plays in the summer months, providing a very special experience.

Shopping

This peaceful area of West Wales has very few shops as there is easy access to all of the shopping facilities in Cardigan, but there is the fantastic Penrallt Garden Centre near Moylgrove. This lovely garden specialist is open every day and sells a wide range of quality plants and garden supplies. It also has a cafe, which has seating both inside and out, and a fabulous children’s play area, as well as woodland walks.

In Cardigan you’ll find a wide choice of both high street names and specialist, independent shops. For grocery shopping there’s a Tesco supermarket, as well as an Aldi and a Spar, but explore this pretty town and you’ll discover shops selling everything from surfing equipment to handmade items – take a look at the Custom House Shop and Gallery for lovely works by local Welsh artists and craftspeople.

Cardigan’s historic Guildhall Market is also great to explore, with over 50 different stores selling everything from antiques to gaming gear. Here there’s also a cafe where you can enjoy a quick snack or a cup of coffee if you fancy catching up with friends.

And while many towns are losing their banking services, Cardigan currently has branches of Lloyds, Barclays and HSBC.

Eating & Drinking

West Wales has a reputation for fresh, innovative food, using the fabulous local ingredients that are grown and bred here. Move to the area and you’ll enjoy some fantastic restaurants and specialist food retailers for cooking at home.

Close to Cippyn is the Awl Mor restaurant, with its waterfront location, while at St Dogmaels is the popular gastropub The Ferry Inn, which serves dishes such as their seafood basket and local Welsh steak.

There’s also plenty of choice in the pretty town of Cardigan. Depending what you’re looking for and your budget, some to try include Food for Thought, Shampan Indian Restaurant and the fantastic Pizzatipi, which serves wood fired, handmade pizzas and has a great bar with music. You can even enjoy dining in historic Cardigan Castle at its restaurant – 1176 at Cardigan Castle. You also shouldn’t miss the breads at the fantastic Bara Menyn Bakehouse on Chancery Lane in Cardigan, which also makes delicious pain au chocolat, croissants and a range of incredible pizzas.

Healthcare

The closest GP’s surgery to these villages is in Cardigan at the Health Centre, which is open every day from 8.30am until 1pm and then from 2pm until 6.30pm. Here there is a choice of five doctors and three nurse practitioners, and they provide a range of services. For simple requests such as a sick note or test results, the surgery offers e-consultations.

For dental care there is a choice of dental practices in Cardigan – Cardigan Dental Practice, located in the Integrated Care Centre, the Feidr Fair Dental Practice, and the Charsfield Dental Surgery. Whichever one you choose, all are open five days a week and have several practising dentists.

Close to Moylgrove there is also Katie Welsford, a complementary therapist who provides a range of massage, reflexology and Reiki treatments, while if you’re looking for a chiropractor we would recommend the West Wales Chiropractors in Blaenporth (about 20 minutes away).

If you’re moving to the area with pets then the closest vet is in Cardigan – Priory Vets – which has a good reputation and provides care for both domestic and farm animals.

Schools

If you have young children then you’ll be interested to find out more about the closest primary school – St Dogmaels Community School, a bilingual school with a good reputation, which also offers breakfast and after school clubs to help working parents.

For secondary education, children from these villages will usually go to Cardigan where there is Ysgol Uwchradd Aberteifi. This school is very popular with parents and pupils, and it provides a range of extra-curricular activities.

For further education Cardigan also has Coleg Ceredigion, which offers an extensive choice of study options – including part time and online courses, as well as apprenticeships. Subjects include everything from public service and computing, to education and hospitality.

For university education for your child – or yourself – the University of Aberystwyth (about an hour and a quarter from the villages), offers a wide range of both undergraduate and postgraduate studies and has an excellent reputation.

Finally, for parents who have a young child with disabilities, severe learning difficulties or autism, there is the renowned Canolfan y Don at Ysgol Aberporth (about 25 minutes from these villages). Supporting children up to the age of 11, it has an excellent team and a range of specialist facilities.

Transport

This part of rural West Wales offers a peaceful escape, but it does mean that public transport is not as widely available as in other areas. At certain times of the year there is a bus service connecting Moylgrove with Cardigan, but it is not regular, therefore we do recommend that if you are thinking of moving to this area you need to have a car.

You can check times and daily schedules on this journey planner, or speak to us and we will be happy to check the latest bus timetable updates for you. 

There is also a train service from Fishguard Harbour station (about half an hour from these villages) to both Swansea and Cardiff. You can find out more about the timings here.

There are also regular ferry services with Stena Line to Rosslare in Ireland, if you want to explore a little further afield.

Find Out More…

Below we’ve listed a few more websites that may be of help if you’re researching a move to West Wales, but we’re always happy to help you and share our experience and insight into living in this beautiful area. Please give us a call on 01239 562 500 and we’ll happily answer your questions to help you plan your move to Cardigan Bay or West Wales. 

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