Set between the larger towns of Newport and Cardigan, the small villages of Nevern and Glanrhyd offer a peaceful base in rural West Wales. 

Nevern sits just 2.5 miles from the bustling town of Newport, while Glanrhyd is just under four miles south of the historic town of Cardigan. This part of North Pembrokeshire offers easy access to the stunning coastline and Cardigan Bay, as well as wonderful countryside to explore on foot or by bike.

Here you can read more about these villages, or please get in touch with Helen or Tania to discuss your property search and the latest properties that we have for sale. You can also read about the other towns and villages of West Wales and Cardigan Bay in our Location Guides.

History

This part of West Wales has a rich and ancient history, with evidence of prehistoric occupation still visible in the Preseli Hills and elsewhere in the area.

In Nevern you can visit the remains of Nevern Castle, with its Square Tower, bailey and motte. Dating back to 1108, the castle was built by the Normans and it became an important hub in their efforts to conquer Wales.

Also in Nevern is the pretty St Brynach’s Church, where you can see one of the finest Celtic crosses in the UK. Dating back to the 10th century – and known as the Nevern Cross – it reaches 13 feet in height. You can also see some of the original stones of the 6th century chapel – the Vitalianus Stone and the Maglocunus Stone.

Tourism & Recreation

With the famed Preseli Hills on the doorstep, alongside the stunning coastline of West Wales, the area around Nevern and Glanrhyd offers something for everyone.

If you enjoy walking you’ll find terrain for all levels, from gentle strolls along quiet lanes, to more challenging hikes in the mountains. In the Preseli Hills you’ll be surrounded by ancient history, with routes such as the Golden Ridge walk dating back to 3,000BC.

Cyclists are also spoiled for choice here. Quiet roads and picturesque scenery are a paradise for road cyclists, while mountain bikers will love the myriad of trails that cover this part of West Wales. 

Being this close to the coast and the famed Cardigan Bay, residents here can also make the most of the fabulous water sports that are readily available. Surfing is hugely popular in West Wales and there are plenty of surf schools happy to teach anyone new to the sport. The wide choice of beaches also means you can find somewhere that suits your abilities.

Other water sports available include windsurfing, water skiing, paddle boarding and sailing – it’s worth checking about clubs that you can join if you’d like to practise with other enthusiasts.

But living here is not just about being active. The multitude of beaches in this part of the UK are loved by residents and tourists alike. Newport North beach is one of the closest to these villages and is very popular with families thanks to its five miles of sand. There’s also the pretty Poppit Sands and, on the opposite side of the River Teifi estuary, the beach at Gwbert.

In Cardigan you’ll also find a swimming pool and fitness centre, which offers a range of classes, such as spinning, and the town also has a theatre and cinema – Theatre Mwldan. Alternatively in Fishguard (about nine miles from Nevern) there is a Leisure Centre for swimming sessions and fitness classes, as well as a theatre/cinema – Theatr Gwaun.

Shopping

If you choose to live in rural West Wales then part of its charm is the lack of big high street stores. Instead you’ll find a great choice of small, specialist shops selling an incredible range of items. For example, set between Newport and Nevern – in ​​Maesgolau – is The Button Queen, a shop that has specialised in selling buttons for over 60 years and which recently moved to the area from London. And in Newport itself you can find Penbanc Fabrics, which sells soft furnishing and craft fabrics – perfect if you’re doing up a property.

Also worth visiting in Glanrhyd is Jonathan Guest furniture designer and maker. Here you can buy – or commission – everything from coffee tables to chopping boards. You can explore his online shop here.

For day to day grocery supplies your nearest shops are either in Newport or Cardigan. In Newport there’s a Spar, a specialist fish shop – Newport Shellfish Co, and a health food shop – Wholefoods of Newport. From March to December you can also explore Newport’s Produce Market, where you’ll find stalls selling everything from locally grown veg to handmade cheeses. 

In Cardigan there’s a wider choice of shops, including major supermarket chains – Tesco, Aldi and Spar. You’ll also find many other independent stores in this historic market town, as well as the Grade II listed Guildhall Market, which has over 50 specialist stalls. Cardigan also has branches of Lloyds, Barclays and HSBC for any financial requirements you may have.

Eating & Drinking

From markets selling fresh local produce such as breads, meats and ice cream, to specialist food shops, renowned restaurants and cool beach cafes, West Wales has a growing reputation for high quality food and drink.

The villages of Nevern and Glanrhyd are small but offer easy access to some fabulous dining experiences. In Nevern itself there’s the lovely Trewern Arms Hotel, a picturesque 16th century inn. Serving home cooked meals, such as pan roasted hake or steak and Guinness pie, as well as vegetarian and vegan options, the hotel also has nine en-suite rooms if you’re coming to the area to house hunt.

Less than four miles from Glanrhyd is the fabulous Pen Y Bryn Arms, a traditional pub that serves excellent home cooked food and does a Sunday roast – definitely worth visiting!

A little further afield and you have a wider choice of restaurants in both Newport and Cardigan. The close proximity of both towns to the sea means there is plenty of fresh fish and seafood to be found on menus.

In Newport 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. Alternatively visit The Canteen on Market Street for pizza, The Castle Inn; or The Golden Lion Hotel.

In Cardigan, the family run restaurant The Copper Pot is popular for lunch and dinner, or have breakfast at Crwst, while for a great pizza experience try Pizzatipi. You can also buy your own fish from Cardigan Bay Fish or the Fisherman’s Rest (Catch of the Day) and cook in the comfort of your home.

Healthcare

Depending where you choose to live you will have a choice of healthcare providers. If your closest large town is Newport then the Preseli Health Centre on Long Street is open Monday to Friday from 8am to 6.30pm, and has three partner GPs as well as support staff.

Newport also has a private dentist – Pembrokeshire Dental Care – which is well-established and provides a complete range of dental health and cosmetic procedures. There is also a pharmacy here – the Newport Pharmacy, which can be found on Market Street and is open Monday to Friday from 9am to 5.30pm, and on Saturday from 9am to 1pm. 

Alternatively, there is the Cardigan Health Centre, which is open daily from 8.30am until 1pm and from 2pm to 6.30pm Monday to Friday (closed from 1pm – 2pm). This practice currently has five practising doctors and three nurse practitioners, as well as practice nurses and attached staff such as district nurses and midwives. 

There are also two dental surgeries in Cardigan – Charsfield Dental Surgery on Priory Street and Feidr Fair Dental Practice on Feidrfair, as well as a choice of pharmacies including a Boots and the Well Pharmacy.

For animal health, there are Priory Vets in both Cardigan and in Crymych.

Schools

For primary education, which school your children will attend will be determined by where you choose to live. The closest primary school to Nevern is in Newport – the Ysgol Bro Ingli, which has classes for nursery, infants and juniors. This is a Welsh Medium school, which means that the day to day operational language is Welsh. 

Alternatively at Crymych (about 9 miles from Nevern/7.5 miles from Glanrhyd) there is the Ysgol Bro Preseli, a combined primary and secondary school, including a Sixth Form. This is a bilingual school, which provides an excellent range of extracurricular activities and sports.

Another option for secondary education is Ysgol Uwchradd Aberteifi in Cardigan, with a school bus running from Glanrhyd each day to the school.

If you or your child are looking at further education options then there is a choice of both the  Coleg Ceredigion in Cardigan and Pembrokeshire College in Haverfordwest (about 20 miles to the south). Both offer a good choice of courses, including part-time and online learning, as well as apprenticeships. 

There is also university education available within a relatively short drive of these villages, at Aberystwyth University. Just over an hour away, depending on where you live, it has an excellent reputation and provides undergraduate and postgraduate courses and a range of other study options.

For families with a child with educational needs, we would recommend you consider Canolfan y Don at Aberporth School, less than 30 minutes from these villages. With a range of specialist facilities, the school welcomes pupils up to the age of 11. 

Transport

The villages of West Wales are predominantly connected by local bus services, however, these villages benefit from easy access to Fishguard where there is still an operating rail service connecting to the larger cities of Swansea and Cardiff. You can find out more about the timings here.

The bus services are quite regular, depending on where you live, but you can read more about the different options here or ask us about the current timetables, we’re always happy to help answer your queries.

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

Find out more

If you’d like to find out more about life in West Wales, Pembrokeshire and Cardigan Bay there are various websites that can help. We’ve listed a few below, but you can call us on 01239 562 500 or get in touch through our website and we’ll be happy to answer your questions. 

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