If you’re looking for a house for sale in Ceredigion then consider the small villages of Llanarth and Gilfachrheda, located just a short drive from picturesque New Quay on the beautiful Welsh coast.

Surrounded by rolling fields, here you can enjoy sports such as cycling and walking, as well as fabulous watersports in Cardigan Bay. There’s a mixture of both older and new build properties in the villages and countryside, and with the larger towns of Aberaeron, Llandysul, Newcastle Emlyn, Lampeter and Cardigan all within a short drive, there are plenty of shopping and dining opportunities.

For information on the many other towns and villages of West Wales, take a look at our location guides. You can also get in touch with Helen or Tania to discuss your home move and the areas you’re interested in.

History

This part of West Wales has a rich history, which dates back centuries. Across the region you can still see evidence of prehistoric life, as well as the Bronze Age and Iron Age, meaning you’ll have plenty to discover.

In Llanarth there’s the Grade II listed church of St David’s, which was once dedicated to St Fylltyg. According to legend, the Devil tried to steal one of the church bells one night. In doing so he woke up the local vicar who forced him away. As the Devil fled he left his footprint in a stone in the churchyard – a stone that can be seen today.

Tourism & Recreation

Being so close to the stunning coast of Cardigan Bay, this beautiful part of West Wales offers residents a whole host of activities to enjoy.

For water sports enthusiasts, you’ll find plenty to choose from. Surfing is one of the most popular sports here, with many people heading out to catch some waves at the weekend or even after work. It’s easy to organise lessons, and you’ll find that some beaches are better than others for beginners or more experienced surfers. It can be very sociable, so you’ll quickly meet other enthusiasts.

Other water sports available include everything from paddle boarding and water skiing to kayaking and sailing. In New Quay head to the sandy, Blue Flag Harbour Beach – very popular with families – and you can book in for lessons with Cardigan Bay Watersports. In August, don’t miss the annual Cardigan Bay Regatta, which takes place on Harbour Beach and offers lots of activities – both on and in the water!

New Quay also has  two other beaches – Traeth y Dolau and Traeth Gwyn. Dolau Beach is located on the other side of the harbour wall and has pebbles, rocks and sand, while Traeth Gwyn is a much wilder beach but still lovely to visit.

Travel a little further to the north and you’ll find picturesque Aberaeron, a popular tourist spot with its beaches, colourful houses, shops and cafes, while further south on the coast is lovely Llangrannog beach, which is popular with families and surfers and has a main beach and a smaller second beach.

Twenty minutes from Llanarth, south along the coast, you’ll get to Tresaith, which has the Tresaith Mariners catamaran and dinghy sailing club, while if fishing is more your thing then consider joining the Llandysul Angling Association, which has the rights to over 30 miles of fishing on the River Teifi. For something a little different you can also try the Llandysul Paddlers – they offer sports such as river swimming, canyoning and climbing, all with experienced instructors.  

But life here isn’t all about water! Fantastic walking and cycling trails run across the countryside and along the famous coastline, including the Ceredigion Coastal Path, which covers 60 miles from Cardigan in the south up to Ynyslas in the north. Horse riders too will enjoy the peaceful roads and bridleways, with a range of studs and riding stables scattered across this part of West Wales.

There is also a choice of leisure centres in the area if you prefer working out in a gym or taking classes. In Aberaeron, there’s the Sir Geraint Evans Leisure Centre, while in Newcastle Emlyn there’s a 25m swimming pool, spin studio and squash court, and in Llandysul, there’s a swimming pool and a range of fitness classes available. Alternatively, if you’re a cricketer you can find out more about the Llandysul Cricket Club.

You can also visit – or volunteer to help with – the Marine Wildlife Centre in New Quay, a non-profit organisation that is dedicated to preserving the marine wildlife of Cardigan Bay.

Shopping

Llanarth has a few small local shops, including Premier Express and Costcutter convenience stores, which sell bakery products alongside fresh and packaged goods. 

There’s also a petrol station here, a butcher, and Llanarth Garden Centre, which is a great place to stock up on all types of plants if you’re planning to update your garden at your new property. If you’re looking for birthday cakes or other delicious items, try Sarah’s Sweet Treats.

More shops are available in New Quay, including The Corner Shop – a convenience store and Post Office – as well as a range of lovely gift shops, a butcher, and even a specialist guitar shop! Just outside New Quay, between Cross Inn and Synod Inn, you’ll also find the New Quay Honey Farm. Here you can buy a selection of honey and honey-based products such as homemade mead, and you can visit an exhibition about bees.

The charming coastal town of Aberaeron is about 10 minutes away (depending on where you choose to live). Here you can explore some lovely independent shops including clothing stores such as Joy Aberaeron and Partridge and Parr. There’s also Watson & Pratt’s organic food shop, the Elephants & Bananas gift shop and Harmonies Homeware which sells locally crafted items and upcycled furniture. 

Major supermarkets – Tesco, Spar and Aldi – can be found in Cardigan (about half an hour away), while in Lampeter (also about 30 minutes away) there’s a Sainsbury’s and a Co-Op. In both of these towns, you’ll also find major banks such as Lloyds and HSBC.  Both towns also have a great range of specialist, independent stores selling items such as antiques and surf gear, and services such as hairdressers and beauticians.

Eating & Drinking

West Wales has a growing reputation for fresh, locally produced food, and you’ll find some fantastic restaurants, cafes and pubs in the area.

In Llanarth there is the Llanina Arms Hotel, a good base to stay if you’re visiting the area to house hunt. The hotel also has a bar and a restaurant serving dishes such as homemade pie and locally made sausages.

A little further north on the A487, you’ll reach Llwyncelyn where there’s The Moody Cow, a popular bistro and farm shop with the menu featuring a range of steaks and burgers.

Between Gilfachrheda and New Quay, you can try The Cambrian Inn and Restaurant, which offers a Sunday carvery as well as a range of dishes throughout the week.

There’s lots more choice in New Quay and the Georgian town of Aberaeron. In New Quay try the New Quay Coffee Company for delicious coffee and snacks, or eat at the Blue Bell Deli & Bistro, with its beautiful views, serving breakfast, lunch and dinner. In Aberaeron don’t miss the crispy pork cheeks at The Stubborn Duckling or the Welsh Rarebit at the popular McCowans Cafe.

Healthcare

The closest GPs surgery to these villages is at New Quay – the New Quay Surgery, located on Church Road, which is open Monday to Friday from 9am until 6.30pm.

Alternatively, there is an Integrated Care Centre at Aberaeron, which includes Tanyfron Surgery. There is also a GP surgery in Llandysul –  the Llynyfran Surgery, while Newcastle Emlyn has the Meddygfa Emlyn practice. Both Llandysul and Newcastle Emlyn are around 20 -25 minutes from these villages.

New Quay has a pharmacy –  Central Pharmacy, while Aberaeron and Llandysul both have a Lloyds Pharmacy and a Boots Pharmacy and in Newcastle Emlyn there is a Boots Pharmacy and the Bridge Pharmacy.

For dental care, both Llandysul and Newcastle Emlyn have good dentists. Llandysul has the Cottage Dental Practice, while in Newcastle Emlyn there are two dental practices  – Emlyn Dental Care, located on Church Lane, and Teifi Dental Centre in Emlyn Square.

There is also an excellent chiropractor in Blaenporth (around 20-25 minutes from these villages) – West Wales Chiropractors.

If you’re moving to the area with a pet then there is a choice of vets – Priory Vets in Aberaeron, Tysul Vets in Llandysul and Castle House in Newcastle Emlyn.

Schools

If you’re looking for a home for sale in Ceredigion and are moving here with children, finding out about the local schools is important. 

Llanarth has its own primary school, making it very convenient if you buy close to this village. If you buy a home closer to New Quay then here there is  Ysgol Cei Newydd, a small school close to the centre of town, alternatively, if you live towards Aberaeron there is Ysgol Gynradd Aberaeron.

When it comes to secondary education there is the Aberaeron Comprehensive School, which offers a bilingual education and covers a broad academic curriculum. The school also provides a good range of extra-curricular activities.

As your children get older further education can be taken at Coleg Ceredigion in Cardigan. This college provides a fantastic range of courses, as well as apprenticeships and online study, with courses including ICT, the Performing Arts and Hospitality.

For university education, Aberystwyth University is around 20 miles along the coast and has a long history. It provides both undergraduate and postgraduate courses, as well as online study and lifelong learning courses.

For parents of a child with autism or severe learning disabilities, we would also recommend Canolfan y Don in Aberporth School (about 20 minutes away depending on where you choose to live). The specialist team offers learning and development for children up to the age of 11.

Transport

Living in a beautiful, rural area such as this means that you will need a car, but these villages do benefit from regular bus services to New Quay, Aberaeron and Cardigan.

The T5 service connects Aberystwyth to Haverfordwest and stops at both Llanarth and Gilfachrheda – you can view the full timetable here. 

You can also find out more by using this journey planner.

Find out more…

We are a specialist estate agent in Ceredigion and are always happy to help you with your property search. You can contact Helen or Tania directly on 01239 562 500 to discuss your requirements and we’ll keep you up to date with all of the latest properties that come onto the market.

You can also find out more about the villages of rural West Wales and Cardigan Bay on these other websites – 

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