If you’re looking for rural Welsh life combined with easy access to larger towns, then the villages of Cwmduad & Cynwyl Elfed could be just for you.  

Located between historic Newcastle Emlyn, Llandysul and Carmarthen, the county town of Carmarthenshire, these villages offer beautiful scenery for walking, cycling and horse riding, as well as good schools and a range of amenities in the larger towns. Plus it’s just a short drive to the stunning Cardigan Bay coastline. 

We’re here to help you find your next home for sale in Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion or Pembrokeshire. You can read on to find out more about Cwmduad & Cynwyl Elfed, or you can find out more about the other towns and villages of West Wales in our location guides.  

For any questions or to register with us to receive updates on new properties coming onto the market please get in touch with Helen or Tania and we’ll be happy to help. 

History 

The community of Cynwyl Elfed, which includes Cwmduad, has been the source of many different Roman artefacts, including a statue of the goddess Diana who was worshipped as patroness of the countryside and nature. 

The village was also the most important centre of the ‘commote’ of Elfed in the Middle Ages. 

The railway once played an important role in life here, with Cynwyl Elfed having its own railway station on the Carmarthen to Aberystwyth line – this sadly closed in 1965. 

You can also visit the parish church of St Cynwyl of the Church in Wales, which was founded back in the 6th century and today is a Grade II listed building.  

Tourism & Recreation 

Surrounded by beautiful countryside and with the stunning coast of Cardigan Bay just over 30 minutes’ drive away, plus all of the amenities of Carmarthen close by, it’s no wonder this part of West Wales is becoming increasingly popular with house hunters. 

If you enjoy getting out and walking then Carmarthenshire has a great choice of footpaths for all levels, while for fabulous coastal views try walking part of the famed Ceredigion Coastal Path. As you walk, keep your eye out for some of the coast’s wildlife such as dolphins and seals. 

Road cycling and mountain biking are also very popular here, with plenty of excellent routes and tracks to explore. Similarly, keen equestrians will love discovering the bridleways and quiet lanes of this part of West Wales. In fact, this area is fantastic for horse riders, with Little Mill Equestrian Centre around 13 minutes away, and there’s also Knightsford Equestrian just north of Carmarthen.  

Back on the coast, residents here can enjoy some of the UK’s best beaches. Llangrannog beach is about 40 minutes drive from these villages and is loved by families and surfers for the relaxed vibe and friendly beach cafes such as Caffi Patio and The Beach Hut. 

Aberporth beach is also lovely and is slightly nearer – about 35 minutes’ drive; while; Mwnt, which is owned by the National Trust, is about 45 minutes away. There’s also popular Aberaeron, which is lovely for a wander with its Regency style houses, harbour and beach. 

The wealth of beaches in this area means that water sports are very popular. You can try your hand at everything from kitesurfing and windsurfing to kayaking and paddle boarding, but the most popular has to be surfing. Different beaches are recommended for different surf abilities, so judge your standard and head out to catch some waves or get some lessons! 

If fishing is your thing then you can choose from Cardigan Bay or the famed River Teifi where the Llandysul Angling Association has fishing rights on over 30 miles of the river. 

Landysul is also home to the Llandysul Paddlers, a company that offers plenty of adventure!  With specialist instructors, you can try canyoning, river swimming, climbing and more – a great way to discover the hidden corners of West Wales. 

For keen cricketers there’s Llandysul Cricket Club, which has a number of teams, while both Llandysul and Newcastle Emlyn have their own leisure centres with swimming pools.  

Carmarthen also has all sorts of clubs and societies. Carmarthen Rugby Club is a great part of the community, alongside Carmarthen Football Club, as well as Carmarthen Young Farmers.   

There are also plenty of tourist attractions to be found here. Carmarthen Castle and Newcastle Emlyn Castle both offer fascinating insights into the history of the area, while you should take a ride on the Gwili Railway near Carmarthen, which offers a vintage train experience. There’s also a Vue cinema in Carmarthen if you enjoy watching the latest releases.  

Shopping 

Rural West Wales offers all sorts of shops – some of which you won’t find anywhere else! 

Cynwyl Elfed has a Premier convenience store where you can stock up on grocery essentials, while just outside Cwmduad you’ll find Pedran Harps who handcraft these beautiful instruments.  

For more choice you’ll need to explore the towns and villages around you. The largest choice of shops is in Carmarthen, where you can find plenty of retail therapy in both high street names and independent stores. Take a look in St Catherine’s Walk Shopping Centre for big brands such as Next, Lush and Tiger, and explore the surrounding streets where you’ll find shops selling everything from teas at TeaTraders, to Waterstones books, and Weird Fish clothing. There are also supermarkets such as Morrisons, Co-Op Food, Aldi, Lidl and a Tesco Extra. 

In Llandysul there’s a Spar and a CK Foodstore, as well as a fruit shop, a butcher, a book shop and more; while in Newcastle Emlyn there’s a Co-op Food store and independent shops such as the Soap Shack, butchers, florists and a health food shop. 

In Carmarthen you’ll also find branches of the banks NatWest, Lloyds, TSB and Santander for your finances. 

Eating & Drinking 

There’s a lot to enjoy in terms of food and drink in West Wales. From fun beach cafes to restaurants serving delicious local dishes and welcoming pubs, plus food producers creating artisan products, there’s something for all tastes. 

In Cynwyl Elfed there’s the Blue Bell Inn Chinese restaurant, while on the road north from these villages you’ll find The Lamb of Rhos, a popular restaurant and bar that offers accommodation if you’re coming to the area to house hunt. 

Set between Llandysul and Newcastle Emlyn, The Leeky Barrel Welsh Bistro & Shop is definitely worth a visit. Here you can try dishes such as cockles and laverbread and Welsh cawl. 

Also a short drive away is Tafarn John Y Gwas or The Red Lion in Drefach Felindre, both of which serve good food, a choice of beers and offer a friendly atmosphere. 

In Llandsyul there are more restaurants, coffee shops and takeaways, including Ffab Cymru; Buon Appetito; and Nyth Y Robin, as well as a choice of takeaways. In Newcastle Emlyn try places like The Travelling Teapot or Y Cwtch Coffi; while in Carmarthen you’ll find plenty of choice such as the fine dining restaurant The New Curiosity; Florentino’s, offering authentic Italian cuisine; and the award-winning Warren for great coffee, beers, and fantastic menus for lunch, dinner and Sunday lunch. 

Healthcare 

The closest medical centres are in Newcastle Emlyn, Llandysul and Carmarthen, so depending where you live or work will probably determine which doctor you choose to register with.  

In Newcastle Emlyn, Meddygfa Emlyn provides a range of specialist clinics and has morning and afternoon surgeries from Monday to Friday (8am to 6.30pm). In Llandysul the Llynyfran Surgery has a team of doctors, nurse practitioners and practice nurses, while in Carmarthen there’s St Peter’s Surgery on St Peter’s Street and Furnace House Surgery on St Andrew’s Road. Carmarthen also has Glangwili Hospital. 

Dentists are also available in all three towns. Newcastle Emlyn has the Teifi Dental Centre and Emlyn Dental Care; Llandysul has the Cottage Dental Practice; while Carmarthen has the Carmarthen Dental Centre, Hayden Dental, and Water Street Dental Practice.  

Newcastle Emlyn has two pharmacies – a Boots Pharmacy and the Bridge Pharmacy; Llandysul has a Lloyds Pharmacy and a Boots Pharmacy; and Carmarthen has a Walter Lloyd pharmacy, a Nigel Williams Pharmacy, and a Tesco Pharmacy. 

For vets you have a choice of Castle House in Newcastle Emlyn, Tysul Vets in Llandysul and Carmarthen Veterinary Centre. 

For any back issues we would highly recommend West Wales Chiropractors in Blaenporth – less than 35 minutes from these villages. 

Schools 

If you have young children a big attraction is having a local primary school and Cynwyl Elfed has a lovely, welcoming school in the village.  

For secondary education, there are schools in Carmarthen, Newcastle Emlyn and Llandysul- depending where you find your perfect house for sale in Carmarthenshire. Ysgol Gyfun Emlyn is in Newcastle Emlyn, while in Carmarthen there is the Queen Elizabeth High School and in Llandysul there’s Ysgol Bro Teifi which is a purpose built primary and secondary school.  

For families who want to find specialist education for a child with autism or severe learning difficulties, there is an excellent school in Aberporth, around 35 minutes from these villages. Canolfan y Don welcomes pupils up to the age of 11 and has a fantastic team to support children. 

Further education is available in Carmarthen, where the Coleg Sir Gâr offers a wide choice of academic and practical courses, including apprenticeships, adult learning and part time courses. Alternatively, in Cardigan you’ll find Coleg Ceredigion which offers courses in areas such as the performing arts and construction, as well as GCSE courses. 

There’s also Carmarthen School of Art, which has courses in everything from jewellery design to 3D design and fine art. 

The University of Wales Trinity St David also has its Carmarthen Campus, where around 1500 students study subjects such as Youth Work, Adventure Filmmaking, Sociology and Rugby Coaching, providing further choice for both adults and young people.  

Transport 

This area is surrounded by wonderful countryside and is very rural therefore we would recommend you have a car if you choose to live here, in order to access all of the amenities in the surrounding towns and villages. 

These villages do benefit from a regular bus service connecting both Cwmduad and Cynwyl Elfed with Newcastle Emlyn, Carmarthen and Cardigan – the 460 service. 

You can also check other bus routes and timings on this journey planner. 

Carmarthen also has a regular rail service to London – some are direct trains, others you change at Cardiff or Swansea – adding to the appeal of this area. 

Find out more… 

As an award winning, specialist estate agent in West Wales, we know the towns and villages of the region well and can offer expert advice on where is right for you. We’d love to help you find your perfect house for sale in Ceredigion, Pembrokeshire or Carmarthenshire, so why not get in touch? 

Please contact us on 01239 562 500 to discuss your plans. 

If you’re keen to find out more about the area you can also have a look 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