These five small villages are set just to the north of the pretty market town of Llanybydder, while the larger towns of Lampeter and Llandysul are a short drive away with their range of amenities. 

With the stunning coastline of Cardigan Bay also within easy reach, and a wide range of activities – everything from walking and horse riding to water sports, fishing and rugby – this is a wonderful, peaceful area for all the family. 

Cardigan Bay Properties is an award-winning estate agency, committed to helping buyers find their perfect home for sale in Ceredigion, Carmarthenshire or Pembrokeshire. Please get in touch to find out about the latest properties for sale. You can also read about the many other towns and villages of West Wales in our growing range of location guides.  

History 

History abounds in Ceredigion, with remains found dating back to the Iron Age, as well as numerous legends about smugglers and battles. While these villages aren’t significantly notable for their history, there are a few interesting facts. 

Alltyblaca has had a chapel since 1740, and in the 19th century, the village was an important centre in the region for Unitarianism. The current chapel was built in 1837 and restored in 1892. 

Llanwenog has a breed of sheep named after it, the Llanwenog sheep, which started to be bred in the 19th century. The physicist Evan James Williams (1903 – 1945) also attended school here. 

More history can be seen at Llanybydder; there is evidence of an Iron Age settlement, located on the hill overlooking the town, while the Manchester and Milford Railway, which was a key part of this region’s development in the 19th and early 20th centuries, stopped here for many years until its closure in 1965. The town is also known for its horse fairs, which still take place on the last Thursday of each month. 

Tourism & Recreation 

Beautiful countryside, quiet roads and around 25 minutes’ drive from the spectacular Cardigan Bay coast – the villages of Llanwnen, Alltyblaca, Dre Fach, Llwnwenog and Cwrt Newydd offer a wonderful mix of coast and country. 

Fabulous walking and cycling abounds here. The surrounding areas are home to many footpaths, while the famed  Ceredigion Coastal Path gives you the chance to enjoy stunning sea views and maybe even spot some of the wildlife – such as dolphins and seals – that live in the waters here. There’s also the 21-mile-long Lampeter to Aberaeron footpath and the Cylchdaith Allt Goch Circular from Lampeter, which includes the chance to see an Iron Age settlement en-route.  

For cyclists there is plenty for both mountain bikers and road cyclists to enjoy, and with the area being well known in the equestrian world keen horse riders will also find fantastic riding all around, as well as services such as the Bit & Bridle Fitter.  

There’s also a rugby club at Llandybydder, which competes in the SWALEC Division 4 (West), while Llandybydder’s football team plays in Division 1 of the Costcutter Ceredigion League. 

The peace and calm of fishing is also readily available here, with the Cardigan Bay coast, the River Teifi and The New Celtic Lakes fishing lake at Creuddyn Bridge giving a range of options. 

Also close by is the Woodland Trust’s Coed Y Foel nature reserve, while the Dolaucothi Gold Mines – Britain’s only known Roman gold mine – is about 15 minutes from Lampeter.  

If you prefer the fun of water sports then this area is perfect for you. Drive for less than half an hour and you’ll be at the coast, with picturesque towns such as Aberaeron a delight to explore, but plenty of options for surfing, water skiing, paddle boarding and windsurfing available too. 

Head to New Quay, which has three beaches, and you can rent gear or get a lesson from Cardigan Bay Watersports, where you can try water sports such as paddle boarding, kayaking, wingsurfing and windsurfing. And of course, there are lots of beautiful beaches to enjoy with friends and family. 

Shopping 

Although none of these small villages has its own shop, you’ll find plenty of retail therapy in the surrounding towns and villages! 

Just south of Cwrt Newydd is The Tegfan Farm, which is a family run smallholding that sells meat bred from their own pigs and sheep. You’ll also find them at local farmers markets. 

For groceries there’s a Costcutter convenience store at Pentre-bach, between Llanwnen and Lampeter, but there’s more choice in Llanybydder. Here you’ll find a Nisa convenience store and Siop y Bont, both selling a range of groceries to meet daily needs.  

Llanybydder also has a Post Office, a barbour’s shop – Terry’s Trims; Life Style Kitchens if you’re thinking about renovating the kitchen in your new home; Roy Thomas Farm Supplies, a garage for car repairs and Wilson Timber. Just outside the village is Jen Jones Welsh Quilts & Blankets, if you want to buy some traditional Welsh covers for your home. 

Lampeter has a Sainsbury’s, a Co-Op Food store and a Premier grocery store for more choice. This historic town also has a good range of specialist independent shops, including Lan Llofft for clothing and gift ideas, Mulberry Bush Wholefoods and Watson & Pratts Bakehouse on Lampeter Industrial Estate, which produces some of the best bakery products. 

Lampeter also has a choice of banks and building societies for your financial needs – including HSBC, Barclays Local and the Principality Building Society. 

Eating & Drinking 

While these villages don’t have cafes or restaurants, you don’t need to travel far to be able to enjoy the famed food and drink for which West Wales is famed. 

Head to Llanybydder and you can try the Cross Hands Hotel. Set in a beautiful, historic building it serves local ales, good food and offers accommodation if you are coming to the area to find a house for sale in Ceredigion.  

Llanybydder also has a couple of local pubs – the Tanygraig Inn and the Albion Arms – where you can choose from a range of beers, and the town has takeaways including Romino’s for pizza and kebab and China Wok for Chinese and Cantonese food. 

There’s also the fabulous Røcky Bees, which is open on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays – you can also find them at Lampeter market. They make delicious nordic cakes and breads such as Icelandic potato bread, Finnish cinnamon rolls and Grovbrød – Norwegian whole grain bread. 

In the village of Llanllwni is The Belle. This lovely restaurant has a fabulous menu and uses  fresh ingredients to create dishes such as Welsh fillet steak with tarragon parsley butter,  and slow roast Welsh pork belly with Calvados apple chutney. It should definitely be on your radar! 

You’ve got more dining and drinking choices in Lampeter, including Y Becws for specialist breads and cakes; the Artisans Food & Drink Boutique for great coffees and light meals; or the Castle Green Inn for a Sunday carvery.  

Healthcare 

Once you have found your new home for sale in Ceredigion, one of the first things to do is to register with a local doctor.  For residents in these villages, Llanybydder has the closest medical centre – the Brynmeddyg Surgery, which is located on Llansawel Road. It’s open from 8.00am to 6.30pm Monday to Friday. 

You’ll also find a pharmacy in Llanybydder – the Well Pharmacy, located on Market Square. If you prefer, Lampeter has three pharmacies – a Boots at Harford Square, the Adrian Thomas Pharmacy on High Street and the Allied Pharmacy on Bridge Street. 

Lampeter is also the location of the closest dentist, with a choice available – the award-winning Pont Steffan Dental Practice on North Road and (my)dentist on Market Place. 

For animal lovers Lampeter also has Steffan Veterinary Services on High Street. 

For any back issues you have we also highly recommend a chiropractor in Blaenporth (around 35 minutes from Llanybydder) – West Wales Chiropractors. 

Schools 

These villages are lucky to share a modern local primary school, which first opened its doors to pupils in September 2017. Ysgol Dyffryn Cledlyn is in Dre Fach and was created by the merger of Cwrt Newydd, Llanwnen and Llanwenog  schools. It now welcomes around 120 pupils, and has a good reputation in the area. 

When it comes to secondary education children go to Ysgol Bro Pedr in Lampeter. This is an all age school that welcomes pupils from ages 3-19 and offers a wide range of course options ranging from Welsh language and maths through to food and nutrition and engineering. 

For further education, Lampeter has a campus of the University of Wales Trinity Saint David. It offers a choice of courses, including full-time, part-time, online and distance learning, with subjects ranging from Philosophy and History to Nursing Studies.  

Aberystwyth University is also close by – around 45 minutes’ drive to the north. This internationally respected university provides undergraduate, postgraduate and online courses in everything from English literature and marketing to biology and economics. 

You’ll also find excellent specialist schools if you have a child who has educational needs such as severe learning difficulties or autism. Canolfan y Don school at Aberporth, around 23 miles away, provides a highly recommended experience for children 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 

These villages offer the best of rural living in West Wales, but that means that you will need a car to ensure the convenience you need to access all of the surrounding amenities.  

There are a few local bus services, depending where you choose to live, including the T1 bus service, which connects Carmarthen to Aberystwyth and stops at Llanybydder and Lampeter regularly throughout the day. To find out more about the different routes and stops try this journey planner.  

Find out more 

We’re a specialist estate agency in Ceredigion, Carmarthenshire and Pembrokeshire. You can call us on 01239 562 500 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 
• Transport – Click Here and Here  
• Property management and lettings – Click Here