Set between Cardigan to the north, Newport to the west and Crymych to the south east, the rural West Wales villages of Eglwyswrw and Felindre Farchog offer the best of country living combined with easy access to all the facilities of these larger towns.

The area is also just a short drive from the beautiful coast of Pembrokeshire and Cardigan Bay, which boasts a wealth of wildlife, fabulous beaches and water sports for all the family.

To discuss your property search and hear about the latest homes for sale in Pembrokeshire, Ceredigion and Carmarthenshire please get in touch with us. You can also read more about the other beautiful areas of West Wales in our location guides.

History

Eglwyswrw is set in the heart of Welsh-speaking Pembrokeshire, with a history that goes back to Norman times – you can still see a small Norman ‘motte’ close to the village. The current village church stands on a site that is believed to date back to the 8th century and the 2008 Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales listed 85 sites of importance here.

Felindre Farchog roughly translates as ‘mill village of the knight’ and sits on the River Nevern. It developed thanks to its position on the main road between the ports of Cardigan and Newport, and a number of small mines used to exist close by. There are a number of significant buildings in the village and in the surrounding area, including the College, which was built in the 17th century and updated in 1852 by Sir Thomas Lloyd to house the Court of the Lordship of Cemais. 

Tourism & Recreation

With the famed Preseli Mountains just a short drive away, this picturesque part of Pembrokeshire offers excellent walking and mountain biking, which includes the chance to see prehistoric remains such as Iron Age hill forts and Bronze Age burial cairns.

Closer to the villages there are plenty of other walks to choose from – with something for all fitness levels, while the quiet lanes of rural West Wales are perfect for road cyclists to explore the countryside and villages. 

If you’re a keen horse rider then you’ll also find peaceful bridleways to explore and a choice of stables and riding schools. The Crosswell Riding Stables is one of the best known, located at Ietwen (about two miles from Felindre Farchog) and offering a choice of lessons, treks and stabling.

A major part of this area’s appeal is its close proximity to the stunning coast of Cardigan Bay and Pembrokeshire. These villages are less than 15 minutes from Newport North Beach, which is very popular with families thanks to its wonderful sand and length – it’s five miles long! Other beaches around Newport are Parrog, The Cwm, Aber Rhigian, Aber Forest and Cwm-Er-Eglwys, while elsewhere don’t miss pretty Poppit Sands and the beach at Gwbert.

While many people love to simply relax on the sand and paddle in the sea, many others live here for the incredible water sports that are available in the clean waters. Surfing is perhaps the most popular, with a choice of surf schools to help you improve your skills. Other water sports available include windsurfing, kite surfing, waterskiing and sailing.

If you love fishing then you can enjoy it either from the rocks or by taking a boat out into Newport Bay, with the chance to catch fish such as mackerel, while kids love exploring the rock pools. And don’t forget to look out for sea life such as dolphins, porpoises and seals.

Back on dry land and keen rugby players can head along to Crymych Rugby Club, which has senior, youth and junior teams. Crymych also has a Leisure Centre if you prefer working out in a gym, swimming or taking fitness classes, and there’s a good choice of sessions to suit all ages.

For a calmer pace of life then Crymych has its own choir, which performs at festivals and events across the region. You can find out more about their performances on their Facebook page.

Also worth visiting is Castell Henllys Iron Age Village – the only Iron Age village in the UK – where you can discover life in Wales 2,000 years ago. There is also a range of events held here throughout the year, including Roman re-enactments and hands-on workshops. The ruins of Nevern Castle are also nearby, where you can find out more about the castle and life here.

Shopping

While neither of these villages has a shop, you’ll be able to find plenty of choice in the surrounding towns and villages – and many of these are specialist independent stores, which are fantastic to discover.

In Crymych a few shops to try include Ty Bach Twt and Siop Sian for gift ideas and items for the home; Bwyd y Byd for healthfoods and lovely hampers; and the Galloping Cat, which makes beautiful wedding dresses and costumes.

In and around Newport there’s The Button Queen, which specialises in buttons and has thousands of styles to choose from;  Ffynnon for special items for the home; and The Smoke Shed for fabulous traditionally smoked and sustainably sourced salmon.

Just outside Newport at Cilgwyn there’s also Pembrokeshire Stoves, if you decide to add a stove to your new home.

For grocery shopping choose from Crymych, which offers a Spar and a Nisa Local, Newport with its Spar, or Cardigan which has 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. Cardigan also has its Grade II listed Guildhall Market, which is great to explore with its stalls and cafe. 

You’ll also find high street banks in Cardigan – a Lloyds, Barclays and HSBC.

Eating & Drinking

If you’re looking for a house for sale in Pembrokeshire, then there’s plenty of choice when it comes to food and drink too. At Felindre Farchog is the historic Salutation Inn, which is a popular place for a meal or a drink – especially in the riverside garden. Accommodation is also available here if you are visiting the area to house hunt.

Also close to Felindre Farchog is the Trewern Arms, a 16th century inn with nine bedrooms. It has a riverside restaurant and serves a range of snacks and main meals such as fish and chips, and ham and cheese macaroni bake. 

The Temple Bar Cafe and Farmshop sits between Felindre Farchog and Newport, close to Nevern, and offers a lovely menu with daily specials such as mussels or pigeon, as well as selling a range of delicious produce.

More choice can be found in Crymych, Newport and Cardigan. In Crymych try the Crymych Arms if not Blasus –  a lovely coffee shop that also serves snacks such as jacket potatoes, sausage rolls and daily specials. In Newport don’t miss Pasta a Mano, a takeout pasta specialist set by the water, and Blas at Fronlas for fabulous coffee.

Finally, for anyone with a sweet tooth, try Mary’s Farmhouse where you’ll find delicious ice cream, made locally and sold throughout Wales. 

Healthcare

Convenient healthcare is important for many house buyers and the Preseli Practice has two sites – in Newport and in Crymych. The GPs, practice nurses and clinical team work across both sites and provide a range of services, including face-to-face and telephone consultations. The Crymych surgery is open Monday to Friday from 8.00am to 5.30pm, while the Newport surgery is open from 8.00am to 6.30pm Monday to Friday.

Both towns also have their own pharmacies. In Crymych, the E P Parry Pharmacy is located on Main Street and is open six days a week, while the Newport Pharmacy is on Market Street. Crymych also has an optician – Celia Vlismas.

Dental care is also available nearby, with the closest dentists in Newport – Pembrokeshire Dental Care, and in Cardigan at the Cardigan Dental Practice. 

If you have animals then Priory Vets in Crymych has a good reputation.

Schools

For primary education, there is a small local school in Eglwyswrw, or depending on where you live there are schools in both Newport and Crymych.

The school in Crymych – Ysgol Bro Preseli – is a combined primary and secondary school, including a sixth form. It has a good reputation and offers a bilingual curriculum as well as a wide range of extracurricular activities such as rugby, football and athletics. 

Further education is also available at Coleg Ceredigion in Cardigan. Here your child – or you – can choose from a wide range of full-time, part-time and online courses, as well as apprenticeships. 

For university education, the respected Aberystwyth University is less than one and a half hours away from these villages. Attracting students from around the world, it offers both undergraduate and postgraduate study options.

If you are moving to the area and your child has educational needs, including severe learning difficulties or autism, we would highly recommend Canolfan y Don at Ysgol Aberporth  (around 20 minutes away). With a range of specialist facilities, the school welcomes pupils up to the age of 11. 

Transport

If you choose to live in, or around, these rural villages of West Wales then a car is essential to ensure you can access all of the amenities you need. Eglwyswrw is connected to Newport, Cardigan and Fishguard by the T5 bus service, but you may find the timings aren’t as regular as you need.

The closest rail services are at Fishguard Harbour station, which is less than 25 minutes from these villages. This station has train services to both Swansea and Cardiff – you can find out more about the timings here.

Fishguard Harbour also has regular ferry services with Stena Line to Rosslare in Ireland.

Find out more…

As a specialist estate agent in Pembrokeshire, Carmarthenshire and Ceredigion, we’re here to help you find your perfect property. Below you’ll find a few more websites that may be of help in your research, or feel free to call us on 01239 562 500 and we’ll be happy to chat about what you’re looking for.

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