Surrounded by rolling welsh countryside and just a short drive (around six miles) from historic Cardigan, less than four miles from Crymych, and with the popular coastal resorts of Gwbert and Poppit Sands less than 10 miles away, the small village of Newchapel has a great appeal for house hunters.

Offering more affordable prices than coastal properties, residents here still have easy access to all of the attractions and water sports of Cardigan Bay, together with the charm of Welsh country living.

If you’re looking for a home for sale in Ceredigion or Pembrokeshire, read on to discover more about life here. You can also explore the other villages where we have properties for sale in our location guides. If you’d like to discuss your property search, please get in touch with Helen or Tania and we’ll be happy to help.

History

Newchapel is home to the beautiful John Nash-designed, Grade II listed Cilwendeg Mansion, described as one of Wales’ most significant stately homes. The mansion is now available to rent for special events and in 2013 it hosted the Urdd National Eisteddfod.

In the surrounding areas, you’ll also find the fascinating and beautiful Preseli Mountains, where you can see remains from the prehistoric period, as well as an Iron Age hill fort and ancient standing stones.

Tourism & Recreation

Houses for sale in Ceredigion and Pembrokeshire are increasingly popular, partly because of the fabulous lifestyle they offer in this beautiful part of the UK.

Cycling on quiet country roads or on the many mountain biking trails is a very popular activity for many people here. Both Pembrokeshire and Ceredigion offer a wide range of cycling routes, with something for all fitness levels. 

For walking enthusiasts there are also plenty of local trails, while the Pembrokeshire Coastal Path starts in St Dogmaels and runs south for 186 miles to Amroth. Alternatively, going north from Cardigan, you can walk part – or all – of the Ceredigion Coastal Path, which weaves its way 60 miles along the coast to Ynyslas and offers beautiful views of Cardigan Bay, which is home to wildlife such as dolphins and seals.

Being just a short drive from the famed Preseli Mountains, walkers and mountain bikers can also discover the prehistoric landscapes and ancient sites of this area, while horse riders too will love the bridleways of the region. 

Being so close to the clean waters and beautiful beaches of Cardigan Bay, there’s plenty of opportunity to try a multitude of water sports. Surfing is particularly popular, with lessons available at a number of beaches if you want to learn. Other water sports available include sailing, paddle boarding, water skiing, kitesurfing and windsurfing.

For many people who choose to move here, one of the main attractions is the area’s close proximity to some of the UK’s most spectacular beaches. The blue flag Poppit Sands Beach with its sand dunes, is about 20 minutes away and is very popular with families. There’s also the lovely National Trust Mwnt beach, a secluded bay that is great for spotting wildlife.

On the far side of Cardigan, Gwbert (15 to 20 minutes away) is a clifftop hamlet that is home to the Cardigan Golf Club – a golf course with wonderful sea views if you’re a keen golfer. Rugby players will also be happy to know that Crymych has its own Rugby Club. Alternatively, if you’re looking for a gym, swimming or fitness classes there is Crymych Leisure Centre which offers a full programme of sporting activities, including junior classes.

Crymych also has a choir, which performs at various festivals and events – you can find out more on their Facebook page. While for film lovers, you can watch the latest releases at the Mwldan cinema in Cardigan.

Shopping

Part of the charm of rural living is using small local shops, and nearby Boncath has a Post Office that also sells a good range of essential items. Also just outside Boncath is Wendy Brandon Preserves – a specialist in jams, jellies, marmalades, pickles and chutneys, which are sold across the UK and overseas.

A little further away there is Rhoslyn General Stores, while in Crymych there is a Spar and a Nisa Local for a good range of groceries. Crymych also has a range of specialist stores including Ty Bach Twt, which sells gifts and homewares, or head to Siop Sian for items such as bags, jewellery, chocolates, candles and more, while Bwyd y Byd is a health food shop that also does some lovely hampers.

For the major supermarkets you’ll need to visit Cardigan where you’ll find a Tesco, a larger Spar and an Aldi, as well as many other high street stores and independent shops such as butchers, bakers and surf shops. You should also visit the Guildhall Market – a Grade II listed heritage building, which is home to lots of different stalls selling all sorts of items. In Cardigan you’ll also find the major high street banks of Lloyds, Barclays and HSBC.

Newcastle Emlyn also has some great independent shops such as the famed Cardigan Bay Brownies, as well as clothes shops, gift shops, and food stores, which often sell local produce such as meats and vegetables. There is also a Post Office in the town, and a Co-op Food store.

Eating & Drinking

West Wales has a growing reputation for fabulous local food, with quality restaurants, cool beach cafes and charming pubs attracting a lot of interest. 

In Newchapel there’s a lovely, traditional 18th Century pub – the Ffynnone Arms, which offers real ales from local welsh breweries as well as great food, including Sunday lunch.

Between Newchapel and Cenarth you’ll find The Nag’s Head at Abercych, a fantastic gastro pub serving dishes such as pulled Welsh beef nachos and Welsh lamb. It also has lovely accommodation if you’re coming to the area to house hunt.

Crymych too has a range of cafes, pubs and takeaways. The Crymych Arms Inn is a friendly pub serving good, homemade food, while in the centre of the village you’ll find Blasus which has delicious coffees, teas and milkshakes, as well as food including a range of daily specials. Y Badell Ffrio on Newport Road serves freshly made fish and chips, while other takeaway options include Crymych Kebab House and the Chinese Dragon Inn.

You also shouldn’t miss Mary’s Farmhouse, just outside Crymych, where you’ll find delicious ice creams, made locally and sold throughout Wales. 

A little further afield and you have a wider choice of restaurants, pubs and cafes in both Cardigan and Newcastle Emlyn. 

Healthcare

The closest GPs surgery to these villages is in Crymych (5.1 miles from Newchapel). The medical centre here has four GP partners, as well as practice nurses, enabling it to provide a range of services. The Crymych surgery is open Monday to Friday from 8am to 5.30pm.

Crymych also has the closest pharmacy – E P Parry Pharmacy, located on Main Street and open six days a week, as well as an optician – Celia Vlismas.

If you’re in need of a dentist then the closest are in Cardigan at the Cardigan Dental Practice, or in Newcastle Emlyn which has Emlyn Dental Care on Church Lane, or Teifi Dental Centre at Emlyn Square.

For back issues we would also recommend West Wales Chiropractors in Blaenporth. We’ve used them and found them to be excellent. Blaenporth is about a 15 minute drive from both Boncath and Newchapel.

Finally, if you have pets then the closest vets are in Cardigan and Crymych – both are Priory Vets and they have a farm and equine department, as well as small animals.

Schools

If you’re moving to Newchapel with primary school-aged children, then there are a few schools in the surrounding villages – where you live will determine which school they go to, depending on the individual catchment areas.

For information, there are primary schools in Cilgerran, Cenarth and Crymych (a bit further away from Newchapel). In Cilgerran Ysgol Cilgerran is set in the centre of the village and also has an Early Years Centre. In Cenarth Ysgol Cenarth is a popular school, located not far from the larger town of Newcastle Emlyn, while in Crymych there is a combined primary and secondary school – Ysgol Bro Preseli.

For secondary school stages, the closest school is Ysgol Bro Preseli in Crymych, and there is also the bilingual Ysgol Uwchradd Aberteifi in Cardigan and Ysgol Gyfun Emlyn in Newcastle Emlyn.

If you are looking for further education for your child, or an apprenticeship, then try Coleg Ceredigion, which offers full time, part time and online courses. There is a wide range of subjects available here, including automotive, ICT, hospitality and performing arts. Courses are also available for adults.

Alternatively, the University of Aberystwyth is just over an hour away up the Welsh coast. This well respected university offers both undergraduate and postgraduate studies.

Finally, if you have a young child with severe learning difficulties, disabilities or autism, we can’t speak highly enough of Canolfan y Don at Aberporth school (15 – 20 minutes from Newchapel). It welcomes children up to the age of 11 and has a range of specialist facilities.

Transport

Living in rural West Wales, you’ll find that having a car is essential. While there are some bus services from nearby villages, they may not be as regular as you would like. You can check times and daily schedules for services on this journey planner.

Newchapel is also only about 30 minutes drive from Fishguard, which has a rail service connecting 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…

Cardigan Bay Properties is a specialist estate agent in Ceredigion. We’ve lived here all of our lives and are here to help you find your perfect property – whether that’s finding land for a new build, a renovation project, a small-holding, or any other type of property. We’re always on hand to offer advice and information so please get in touch on 01239 562 500  if you’re thinking about moving to this beautiful area.

If you’re keen to find out more about the area you can also have a look on these other websites – 

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