Set on the edge of the beautiful Preseli Mountains in Pembrokeshire, the bustling village of Crymych offers the perfect mix of rural Welsh living and essential amenities, together with easy access to the larger town of Cardigan – about 15 minutes’ drive away.

Surrounded by some of the most beautiful scenery in West Wales, and just a short drive from the beaches of Cardigan Bay, Crymych is becoming increasingly popular with home buyers. As the main commercial centre for the surrounding villages you’ll find a range of services here, including a combined primary and secondary school.

Read on to find out more about this picturesque area, or get in touch to speak to Helen or Tania about the latest properties for sale. You can also read about the other towns and villages of West Wales and Cardigan Bay in our Location Guides.

History

The village of Crymych came into being with the development of the railways – the railway reached here in 1874 and was opened all the way to Cardigan in 1886. The line was originally constructed to carry slate and lead ore, but it was the produce of the local farmers that kept the line running for many years until it finally closed in 1963. Agriculture continues to play a key role in the local economy.

However, the history of this area dates back much further. Several stone axes have been found here that date from the Neolithic period (4400 – 2300BC), while in the village itself is a Bronze Age monument. Explore the surrounding hills and there is plenty of evidence of early settlements, including an Iron Age hill fort and various standing stones. It’s also believed that the name Crymych came about during the Dark Ages, with various stories as to its origins. 

Tourism & Recreation

Crymych’s location on the edge of the beautiful Preseli Mountains, and between the picturesque hills of Frenni Fawr and Foel Drigarn, opens up a world of opportunity for walkers and cyclists. 

Here you’ll find walks for all levels, from gentle rambles through to more challenging routes, some of which offer views to Snowdonia or even across the sea to Ireland when the conditions are right. The walking here is made even more special as you’ll be passing through prehistoric landscapes, with the area famed for the bluestones that form a key part of Stonehenge.

Mountain bikers and road cyclists are also spoilt for choice, with a wide range of trails and quiet roads, while horse riders will enjoy discovering peaceful bridleways and wonderful views.

Around 20 to 30  minutes away you’ll find some of the most beautiful beaches of West Wales. Newport North beach is one of the closest, a flat five mile sandy beach backed by sand dunes and popular with families. There’s also the lovely Poppit Sands and, on the opposite side of the River Teifi estuary, the beach at Gwbert.

At many beaches in West Wales and Cardigan Bay you can enjoy watersports such as sailing, windsurfing, waterskiing and surfing. You can choose to take lessons if you want, or there are a number of clubs you can join. 

If someone in your family is a keen rugby player then Crymych also has its own rugby club. You can find out more on the Crymych Rugby Club website. Alternatively, if you prefer working out in a gym, swimming or fitness classes there is Crymych Leisure Centre which offers a full programme of sporting activities, including junior classes.

There is also a fabulous choir in Crymych, which performs at various festivals and events. If you’d like to join the choir or find out more about their performances you can follow their Facebook page.

Shopping

For food and grocery shopping Crymych has a Spar and a Nisa Local, which both sell a good range of items. For larger supermarkets head to Cardigan where you’ll find a Tesco, a larger Spar and an Aldi, as well as other high street stores and independent shops such as butchers, bakers and surf shops. There’s also the Guildhall Market – a Grade II listed heritage building, which is home to over 20 different stalls selling all sorts of items.

Back in Crymych there are several small, independent shops, which add to the charm and life of the village. The lovely Ty Bach Twt sells a range of gifts and items for the home, or head to Siop Sian for more gift items such as bags, jewellery, chocolates, candles and more. For healthfoods, try Bwyd y Byd which also does a range of lovely hampers.

Several more specialist shops include CJ’s Equestrian, which sells a wide range of items if you own horses, while The Spider Shop specialises in spiders of all sizes! 

For electrical items head to D E Philips & Son, where you can buy a full range of household appliances.

For high street banks, you’ll need to go to Cardigan where you’ll find a Lloyds, Barclays and HSBC for any financial requirements you may have.

Eating & Drinking

While Crymych is a small rural village, you will find a number of options for eating and drinking. The Crymych Arms Inn is a friendly pub where you can also order good, homemade food. 

In the centre of the village there’s a lovely coffee shop – Blasus – which serves delicious coffees, teas and milkshakes, as well as food such as cheeseburgers, jacket potatoes, sausage rolls, cakes and a range of daily specials. 

For takeaways the Y Badell Ffrio on Newport Road serves freshly made fish and chips, while Crymych Kebab House has both kebabs and pizzas, and is located on Station Road. Alternatively, for a Chinese takeaway head to the Dragon Inn.

You should also look out for Mary’s Farmhouse, where you’ll find delicious ice cream, made locally and sold throughout Wales. 

For a wider choice of restaurants and pubs, take a drive into the surrounding countryside where you’ll find some lovely places such as The Nag’s Head at Abercych, a gastro pub with accommodation if you’re coming to the area to house hunt.

Healthcare

If you’re thinking of moving to this part of West Wales you’ll be pleased to know that Crymych has its own medical centre. The doctors here work at both Crymych and Newport, and provide a range of services – you can choose from face-to-face or telephone consultations. The Crymych surgery is open Monday to Friday from 8am to 5.30pm.

There is a pharmacy in the village – E P Parry Pharmacy, located on Main Street and open six days a week, with various opening times. There is also an optician – Celia Vlismas – which offers eye checks and a good range of glasses.

For dental care, the closest dentists are in Newport – Pembrokeshire Dental Care, and in Cardigan at the Cardigan Dental Practice. 

Schools

Crymych is the educational centre for the surrounding villages and boasts a combined primary and secondary school, including a sixth form. The Ysgol Bro Preseli is a bilingual school, with an excellent reputation. It also provides a range of extra curricular activities, including sports such as rugby, football and athletics. 

As your children grow up you can find further education available in Cardigan at the Coleg Ceredigion. This offers a good range of courses and is very popular, with apprenticeships, part-time courses and online courses all available. Here you can study everything from business to construction and hair and beauty.

Finally, if your child has educational needs, including severe learning difficulties or autism, we would recommend you consider the Canolfan y Don school at Aberporth, about 25 minutes from Crymych. With a range of specialist facilities, the school has an excellent reputation and accepts pupils up to the age of 11. 

Transport

If you’re thinking of living in this beautiful corner of West Wales then having a car is essential for day-to-day activities and making the most of life here. 

However, there are a number of bus services connecting Crymych with Cardigan and other villages in the area. Speak to us during your property search and we can help you check on current bus services if they are important to you.

Find out more

Please contact us if you’d like to find out more about life in Crymych and hear about new properties coming onto the market. You can call us on 01239 562 500 or get in touch through our website and we’ll be happy to discuss your move to West Wales. To help you plan your move further you can also 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