Set between the lovely Welsh coastal towns of Fishguard (just over 4 miles) and Newport (3 miles), the two villages of Dinas Cross and Cwm Yr Eglwys are increasingly popular with house hunters.

Cwm Yr Eglwys is set on the coast and is famed for its pretty beach with rock pools, while Dinas Cross is just one mile inland and was once very popular with sea captains, who built many of the lovely stone houses. If you’re looking for coastal living in Pembrokeshire, both of these villages – and the surrounding areas – are well worth considering.

Read on to find out more about this picturesque part of West Wales, 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

Right on the Pembrokeshire coast, at Cwm Yr Eglwys, sit the ruins of the ancient St Brynach church, the site of which may be early medieval in origin. Sadly, in the mid 19th century the chancel was destroyed by the sea amid violent storms and the graveyard was badly damaged. However, it was the great storm of 1859 which led to the church being abandoned. In 1880 the ruins were demolished, but the west entrance wall was maintained and a sea wall was built to provide some protection for the remaining structure. Today the remains of the church attract many visitors, particularly in the summer months when the beach is so popular.

In Dinas Cross there is another church dedicated to St Brynach, as well as two chapels – Tabor and Gideon. The parish of ‘Dynas’ appeared on a 1578 map of Pembrokeshire, and in the early 19th century it extended from Dinas Head (on Dinas Island) into the Preseli Mountains.

Tourism & Recreation

This part of Pembrokeshire offers plenty of activities for outdoor lovers. The Pembrokeshire Coast Path runs for 186 miles from St Dogmaeis in the north to Amroth in the south and offers spectacular views of the beautiful coastline. The path runs through Cwm Yr Eglwys, with Dinas Cross and the surrounding areas offering easy access to the route. There are also many other bridleways, cycle routes and footpaths to explore – including the circular walking tour around Dinas Island.

In the countryside you can discover a huge array of wildlife such as wild ponies and peregrine falcons, while on the coast look out for sea life including dolphins and seals. You can also discover the varied flora and fauna, and with its sheltered location, Cwm Yr Eglwys has its own microclimate, making it warmer and drier than many other parts of the Pembrokeshire coast.

Being this close to the coast also opens up a whole host of water sports. West Wales is famed for its surf spots and you can find plenty of beaches both on the Pembrokeshire coast and further north on Cardigan Bay, which offer good conditions for all abilities. You can easily find a surf school to take lessons.

Other water sports available include everything from windsurfing and sailing to water skiing and canoeing. Whether you love waters ports or just relaxing on the beach, this part of West Wales offers plenty of choice for family days out or action-packed adventures.

The pretty beach at Cwm Yr Eglwys is a great place to enjoy fish and chips while enjoying fabulous sea views – and don’t forget to visit the remains of St Brynach Church. Also popular is the beach at Pwllgwaelod, which overlooks Fishguard and has plenty of rock pools to explore.

Every year the Cwm Yr Eglwys boat club hosts its Regatta during the first two weeks of August. The event is designed for families and includes sailing, swimming races, sandcastle building and more.

If you enjoy swimming or fitness sessions, head to Fishguard Leisure Centre. Offering a range of swim sessions and lessons, as well as fitness classes for adults and juniors, there’s plenty of choice to help you keep fit.

There is also a theatre/cinema in Fishguard – the Theatr Gwaun – which features a range of productions and many of the latest cinema releases. 

Shopping

You won’t find the big high street stores in these pretty villages! Instead, there are a few small, independent shops where you can stock up on essentials or buy gifts. In Dinas Cross there’s Kiel House Stores, a mini market which sells a range of groceries and will even do hampers for you.

There’s also a Post Office in the village, as well as a petrol station, and a blacksmith – JE Thomas – who can make a range of items for your home such as gates and garden furniture. For artwork for your new home visit the David A Light Gallery where you can find beautiful paintings inspired by the local surroundings.

In Newport you’ll find additional shops, including a Spar, a specialist fish shop – Newport Shellfish Co, and a health food shop – Wholefoods of Newport. There’s also the lovely Elements clothing shop on Market Street, which sells a variety of brands such as Seasalt. If you love exploring a traditional hardware store then you’ll love Havards on East Street, while the Carningli Centre specialises in antiques, books and art. 

From March to December Newport also has its Produce Market, which has some lovely stalls selling everything from fruit and veg to cheeses. There are also two weekly markets in Fishguard –  the Fishguard Thursday Market which takes place at the Town Hall from 8am to 3pm each week, and the Fishguard Farmers Market, which also takes place at the Town Hall every Saturday from 9am until 1pm.

Eating & Drinking

Pembrokeshire, and indeed the whole of West Wales, is becoming increasingly recognised for the quality of its food. From specialist local producers to gastro pubs and restaurants, if you love food and drink then you won’t be disappointed.

Dinas Cross has a couple of friendly local pubs – the Freemasons Arms and The Ship Aground. Both offer home cooked food and are well priced, getting good reviews from visitors. There is also a fish and chip takeaway in the village – Catch  – which is popular.

A little further out near Pwllgwaelod beach is another popular beachside bar/pub and cafe – The Old Sailors. They serve fresh local seafood, as well as meat and vegetarian dishes, and coffee and cakes!

In Newport you’ll find a great choice of restaurants, pubs and takeaways, both on the seafront and in the town. Try Pasta a Mano during the summer months, a street food takeaway serving delicious fresh pasta such as crab linguini, as well as great coffee.

If you love great pizza then try The Canteen on Market Street, while Tides Kitchen & Wine Bar is also very popular. If you’re looking for a friendly pub with good food then head to Castle Inn; or The Golden Lion Hotel offers comfortable accommodation as well as a bar and restaurant.

Travel a little further to Fishguard and you’ll find even more choice, including Cresswell’s Cafe, and the Popty Cafe which does gourmet burgers. Alternatively try The Royal Oak, set in the centre of Fishguard, which serves dishes such as oven-roasted belly pork, salt & pepper squid and a children’s menu.

Healthcare

For residents of Dinas Cross and Cwm Yr Eglwys there are health centres in both Newport and Fishguard. In Newport there is the Preseli Health Centre on Long Street, which has three partner GPs and a range of support staff. It is open Monday to Friday from 8am to 6.30pm.

If you live closer to Fishguard then the Fishguard Health Centre is located on Ropewalk and is open Monday to Friday from 8.30am to 12.30, and 1pm to 6pm. Here there is a choice of doctors and nurses, as well as a pharmacist.

For dental care there is a private dentist in Newport – Pembrokeshire Dental Care – which provides a full range of dental health and cosmetic procedures. Alternatively, in Fishguard there are two dentists – the West Street Dental Practice as well as Vergam Dental.

If you’re in need of an optician, then in Fishguard you can make an appointment with Michael N Charlton Optometrists.

Both Newport and Fishguard have pharmacies. The Newport Pharmacy can be found on Market Street and is open Monday to Friday from 9am to 5.30pm, and on Saturday from 9am to 1pm. There are also two pharmacies in Fishguard – a Boots pharmacy on Market Square, as well as Myrtle Pharmacy on Goodwick Square.

For pet owners, there are two vets in Fishguard – The Oak Veterinary Group on Feidr Castell and Fishguard Veterinary Services at Trem Y Mor. 

Schools

If you’re thinking of moving to the area with children of primary school age, the closest primary school is in Newport, Ysgol Bro Ingli, which is a Welsh Medium school, meaning the day-to-day operational language is Welsh. It has classes for nursery, infants and juniors.

Alternatively in Fishguard, there is the Holy Name Catholic Primary School or Ysgol Glannau Gwaun, depending on where you choose to live.

Secondary education is available in Fishguard at the popular Ysgol Bro Gwaun. This school has a good reputation and offers a wide range of additional clubs and activities such as theatre, music and sports.

For further education, the closest option is Pembrokeshire College in Haverfordwest (about 20 miles to the south). This college provides a wide choice of courses, as well as apprenticeships, online learning, staff development and adult learner programmes. 

Transport

The location of these villages has the added advantage of offering easy access to the train station at Fishguard. From here it’s easy to access the larger cities of Swansea and Cardiff for work or leisure activities. You can find out more about the timings here.

If you prefer to take the bus then Dinas Cross is connected to Newport, Fishguard and Cardigan, with the T5 service – read more here.

From Fishguard, there are also regular ferry services with Stena Line to Rosslare in Ireland, making it easy to visit Ireland for a weekend break or holiday.

Find out more

There are lots of websites to help you know more about Pembrokeshire, Cardigan Bay and West Wales. We’ve listed a few below, but if you’d like to chat with us about the area and the latest properties coming onto the market you can call us on 01239 562 500 or get in touch through our website. 

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