Set amid the beautiful rolling countryside of West Wales, these three villages lie just a short drive from the historic university town of Lampeter, with its shops, restaurants and amenities. 

With activities such as walking, cycling, horse riding and fishing readily available, plus the beautiful Cardigan Bay coast just 20-25 minutes drive away, these villages offer the perfect combination of country life and easy access to picturesque towns and coast. 

We’ve always got a wide range of homes for sale in Ceredigion. Please get in touch with us to discuss your move and the areas you’re interested in. For information on the many other towns and villages of West Wales, take a look at our location guides.  

History 

The history of West Wales dates back over the centuries, with remains from the prehistoric period and Iron Age still visible in places such as West Wales’ Preseli Mountains. 

Gorsgoch is about seven miles to the north west of Lampeter, with its name literally translating as ‘red bog’.  

Cribyn is seven miles to the north of Lampeter and has a Unitarian Chapel – one of the few in Ceredigion – which was established by David Davis Castellhywel and Evan Davies in 1790. Capel Sant Silin is the oldest part of Cribyn, with Saint Silin said to have built a church here in the 6th or 7th century. The woollen industry was also present here, with a woollen mill once on the road to Mydroilyn. 

In Cellan you’ll find the historic All Saints’ Church, a Grade II listed building, believed to have been built in the 13th or 14th centuries. Cellan, which is three miles north east of Lampeter, was also the birthplace of photographer John Thomas, who took many photos of the Welsh landscapes. 

Tourism & Recreation 

One of the main attractions for moving to this part of West Wales is the huge range of activities and attractions on offer here. 

The rolling countryside is perfect for exploring on foot, bike or horseback. Road cyclists will love the quiet roads, while there are plenty of tracks and bridleways to explore if you enjoy walking, mountain biking or horse riding. 

The stunning Welsh coast is also around 20-25 minutes away, with Cardigan Bay home to some wonderful wildlife such as dolphins and seals. It also boasts some of the UK’s best beaches, including lovely ones at New Quay and Aberaeron – the closest beaches to these villages.  

Aberaeron has a north and a south beach, as well as Gilfach Yr Halen, which is a small, secluded beach. New Quay has three beaches, with the main Harbour Beach offering lovely sand, making it very popular with families. Harbour Beach is also the home of Cardigan Bay Watersports, where you can try water sports such as paddle boarding and windsurfing. 

The whole of the Cardigan Bay coast is beautiful to explore – both on land and on water. There are lots of places to get to grips with surfing, which is hugely popular here, as well as other sports such as water skiing, kayaking and sailing.  

If you prefer to stay on dry land then try walking part of the Ceredigion Coastal Path, which takes you 60 miles from Cardigan in the south to Ynyslas in the north. There’s also the 21 mile long Lampeter to Aberaeron footpath to explore, or try the Cylchdaith Allt Goch Circular from Lampeter, which takes in an Iron Age settlement. 

Cyclists will love mountain biking at Brechfa Forest, which offers trails for both experienced and inexperienced mountain bikers, while the Ystwyth Trail connects Aberystwyth with Tregaron in the beautiful Teifi Valley. 

If fishing is more your thing, you can either head to the coast or try The New Celtic Lakes, a fishing lake at Creuddyn Bridge, between Cribyn and Cellan. 

For keen historians, Dolaucothi Gold Mines is about 15 minutes from Lampeter and run by The National Trust – it is Britain’s only known Roman gold mine. Alternatively Llanerchaeron is a Georgian villa designed by John Nash in 1790 and has a lovely walled garden and wild parkland. 

Lampeter has a range of attractions too, including the Welsh Quilt Centre, a monument to the birthplace of Welsh rugby, Lampeter Museum and Lampeter Town Trail. While the town no longer has a cinema, in 2023 the University started holding open air cinema events on the Old College lawn. 

Shopping 

Shopping in rural West Wales brings up a whole host of surprises. From local potters to gift ideas and clothing stores, often you’ll find great shops in very unexpected locations! 

For grocery shopping the closest shops are either in Felinfach, which has a Post Office and a Costcutter, or in Lampeter, which has a Sainsbury’s, a Co-Op Food store and a Premier grocery store.  

Lampeter also has a range of specialist independent shops, selling items such as clothes, local crafts, health foods and more. On Lampeter Industrial Estate there’s Watson & Pratts Bakehouse, which is a fabulous place for delicious bakery products, as well as other organic food items. Head to the centre of town and Lampeter has even more choice, including Mulberry Bush Wholefoods, Lan Llofft for clothing and gift ideas, and a choice of hairdressers and beauty salons. 

In the countryside that surrounds these villages you can also visit shops such as Ethical Wares, which sells cruelty free footwear and clothing, as well as the Nantyfelin Pottery near Cellan for some beautiful items for the home (the pottery also does workshops if you want to try creating your own items), and Lyn’s Cake Creations for fabulous cakes for all occasions. 

A little further away, in Aberaeron, you’ll find a picturesque town with some lovely shops to explore, including Driftwood Designs gift shop; Watson & Pratts organic food store; and Partridge and Parr for lovely bags and clothing. 

Eating & Drinking 

West Wales has a growing reputation for fresh, locally inspired food and drink, and in this particular corner of the area you won’t be disappointed. 

Yn Gorsgoch mae Tafarn Cefn Hafod, a gastro pub serving a choice of dishes such as Welsh steaks and burgers. 

Not far away in the village of Ystrad Aeron you’ll find the Vale of Aeron pub – which was once frequented by Dylan Thomas. It offers a good choice of beers, and with the pub recently bought by the local community, they also host a range of events. 

A short drive to the village of Mydroilyn will bring you to The Gilfach Inn, which serves good beer and has a traditional village pub feel. 

On the road to Lampeter The Falcondale Hotel and Restaurant, is an impressive country house located at the top of the Teifi Valley. The restaurant serves a traditional Sunday lunch, or try dishes such as Glamorgan sausage, pork tenderloin, or pop in for afternoon tea. It’s also a lovely place to stay if you’re looking for a house for sale in Ceredigion. 

As you’d expect from a university town, Lampeter offers plenty more cafes, restaurants and pubs.  Try the Artisans Food & Drink Boutique on High Street for delicious coffees and light meals;  Y Becws for milk shakes, specialist breads and cakes; Granny’s Kitchen cafe; or the Castle Green Inn for a Sunday carvery. There’s also a choice of takeaways including the fish & chip shop Oh My Cod and the Nehar Indian Takeaway. 

Healthcare 

The Lampeter Medical Practice is located on Bridge Street and has a choice of GPs and Practice Nurses. They also offer a range of specialist clinics. 

Lampeter also has three pharmacies – a Boots at Harford Square, the Adrian Thomas Pharmacy on High Street and the Allied Pharmacy on Bridge Street. 

Dentists are also available in Lampeter, with a choice between award winning Pont Steffan Dental Practice on North Road and (my)dentist on Market Place. 

If you’re moving to the area with a pet or other animals, then Steffan Vets on High Street in Lampeter has a good reputation. 

For any back problems we would also recommend an excellent chiropractor in Blaenporth (around 30 – 40 minutes from these villages depending where you live) – West Wales Chiropractors. 

Schools 

For primary school education, children in Cellan will go to Lampeter where there is Ysgol Bro Pedr, an all age school that welcomes pupils from ages 3-19. Lampeter also has the Meithrinfa Seren Day Nursery if you have childcare needs for younger children. 

Children in Cribyn will go to school either in Lampeter or in Felin-fach (about 3 miles away) at Ysgol Gymunedol Felinfach, depending where you choose to live. Children in Gorsgoch will attend primary school either at Ysgol Dyffryn Cledlyn or in Lampeter. For secondary education, the closest school is Ysgol Bro Pedr in Lampeter. 

For further education, the Lampeter Campus of the University of Wales Trinity Saint David offers a good choice of study options – full time, part time, online and distance learning – with courses ranging from Philosophy and History to Nursing Studies. You can find out more by attending an open day. 

Alternatively, Aberystwyth University is less than an hour’s drive to the north. This award winning university welcomes students from around the world, providing an international environment for studying undergraduate, postgraduate and online courses. 

If you are moving to the area with a child who has educational needs such as severe learning difficulties or autism, we would highly recommend Canolfan y Don at Aberporth School, between 17-30 miles away depending where you find a house for sale around Lampeter. It has specialist facilities and accepts pupils up to the age of 11. For secondary schooling Canolfan Y Bont is part of Ysgol Bro Pedr at Lampeter and provides education for children with a range of educational needs. 

Transport 

Living in rural West Wales you’ll find that a car is essential to help you access all of the amenities that are in the surrounding towns. There are some local bus services available as well, including the 616 service, which connects Cribyn to Lampeter. Cellan is also connected to both Aberystwyth and Lampeter by bus. Gorsgoch has a bus service to Lampeter and Rhydowen on a Tuesday only – you can see timings here. 

Find out more 

Cardigan Bay Properties is an award winning, specialist estate agent covering Ceredigion, Pembrokeshire and Carmarthenshire. You can call us on 01239 562 500 to speak to a member of our team, or get in touch through our website. It may also be helpful to take a look at these other websites –  

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