For house hunters looking for a new home in Ceredigion that combines picturesque countryside with easy access to the beautiful coast of Cardigan Bay, then the villages of Oakford, Mydroilyn and Dihewyd may offer a perfect location. 

Set inland from the coastal resorts of New Quay and Aberaeron (around 6 miles away depending where you choose to live), and around 10 miles from the larger town of Lampeter, these villages offer a mix of both traditional and newer properties. 

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 

West Wales is ppacked with historic sites such as ancient forts, castles and prehistoric remains, as well as being the backdrop for countless stories of battles, smuggling and magic. 

Dihewyd has the St Vitalis church, which was built in the 19th century on the site of its predecessor, about which little is known. Oakford is a small village with some lovely traditional stone houses. 

The village of Mydroilyn takes its name from the confluence of two streams – the Mydr and the Oilyn. This village has two chapels – the Mydroilyn Independent Chapel, dating back to 1898, and the Y Ficar Wesleyan Chapel, dating to 1849. Also of interest is the 200 year old Aelybryn farmhouse, once the home of a Welsh landowner, and now a holiday home for rent if you are coming to find a house for sale in Ceredigion. 

Tourism & Recreation 

West Wales offers plenty of choice for residents and visitors. From the stunning coastline of Cardigan Bay with its water sports and beaches, to the rolling hills that hide numerous tracks for walking and mountain biking, there’s lots to discover. 

If history is your thing then visit Llanerchaeron at Ciliau Aeron near Aberaeron, an elegant Georgian villa designed by John Nash in 1790 and now owned by the National Trust. Unchanged for over 200 years, you can explore the house, walled garden and parkland. 

Aberaeron itself is a picturesque tourist town with charming beaches, colourful houses and attractive shops. A little further south, still on the coast, is the popular Llangrannog beach, popular with families and surfers and boasting two beaches. 

New Quay also has a choice of beaches – Harbour, Dolau, Traethgwyn and Cei Bach. Harbour Beach is the most popular with a large swathe of sand; Dolau is smaller and pet friendly all year; Traethgwyn is the largest beach; and Cei Bach is good for beachcombing. 

As you’d expect, there is a fantastic choice of water sports available along the coast. Surfing is one of the most popular activities, with many locals heading out to catch some waves at the weekends. You can also get lessons if you want to learn or improve your skills. 

Other water sports on offer include water skiing, paddle boarding, kayaking and sailing. In New Quay visit Cardigan Bay Watersports at Harbour Beach who can provide lessons and kit rental for various activities. And don’t forget to look out for some of the coastal wildlife such as dolphins, seals, oystercatchers and herons. 

If you prefer exploring on foot, bike or horseback there are plenty of tracks and bridleways to discover around these villages, while back at the coast you can try walking part of the fabulous Ceredigion Coastal Path, which takes you 60 miles from Cardigan in the south to Ynyslas in the north.  

For anyone who loves fishing then there’s the whole of the Cardigan Bay coastline to enjoy, or try The New Celtic Lakes, a fishing lake at Creuddyn Bridge on the road to Lampeter. 

For football fans, nearby Felin-fach has its own football club. With both junior and senior teams, contact them to find out more about training and matches if you want to get involved. 

Other activities in the area include theatre at the Theatr Felinfach, which works with schools and communities in the area. And don’t miss the annual Cardigan Bay Regatta, which takes place in August and offers lots of activities – both on and in the water! 

You should also visit the Marine Wildlife Centre in New Quay, a non profit organisation that is dedicated to preserving the marine wildlife of Cardigan Bay, while the Allt Pencnwc Nature Reserve near Ystrad Aeron is a beautiful area to discover with woodland birds such as the Nuthatch and the Great Spotted Woodpecker. 

Finally, Aberaeron has the Sir Geraint Evans Leisure Centre with classes such as spinning and circuits, while Lampeter Leisure Centre has a swimming pool, a gym and an astro turf pitch. 

Shopping 

If you choose to buy a house in Oakford or Mydroilyn then the closest shops are in Llanarth, which has Premier Express and Costcutter convenience stores, as well as a butcher, a petrol station and Llanarth Garden Centre. The village also has Sarah’s Sweet Treats if you’re in need of some sugar! 

From Dihewyd it’s closer to go to the neighbouring village of  Felin-fach where there’s a Post Office and a Costcutter store. 

For more grocery shopping, Lampeter has Co-Op and Premier grocery stores, as well as a range of independent shops. On the Industrial Estate there’s the Watson & Pratts Bakehouse for delicious bakery products and other organic food items; alternatively explore the main town for clothing, gifts, hairdressers and more. 

Within Aberaeron explore Driftwood Designs gift shop on Quay Parade; Watson & Pratts organic food store; and Partridge and Parr for items such as bags and clothing. There are also shops like the Elephants & Bananas gift shop and Harmonies Homeware for locally crafted items and upcycled furniture.  

New Quay also has some specialist independent shops, including The Corner Shop – a convenience store and Post Office – as well as a butcher, and a specialist guitar shop! Just outside New Quay it’s definitely worth visiting the New Quay Honey Farm for a selection of honeys and honey based products. 

Eating & Drinking 

With West Wales boasting a growing range of restaurants and food specialists, you’ll find plenty of choice in the surrounding towns and countryside. 

In Mydroilyn there’s The Gilfach Inn, which serves a selection of beers and has a traditional village pub feel. A few miles away in Ystrad Aeron the Vale of Aeron pub was bought by the local community and was once frequented by Dylan Thomas.  

Elsewhere, the Llanina Arms Hotel in Llanarth has a restaurant serving home made food and also has accommodation if you’re looking for somewhere to stay during your house hunting. 

A little further north on the A487 is The Moody Cow at Llwyncelyn, a bistro and farm shop that also serves some great steaks and burgers, while The Cambrian Inn and Restaurant is set between Gilfachrheda and New Quay and has a Sunday carvery. 

There’s more choice in New Quay itself, with the Bosun’s Locker  serving delicious coffee and snacks, or try the Blue Bell Deli & Bistro for breakfast, lunch or dinner. 

In Aberaeron, The Hive is very popular, with menus for breakfast, lunch and dinner, including small plates, burgers and fresh fish dishes. It’s also famed for its delicious honey ice cream. For great fish and chips here try Llond Plât, while the award winning New Celtic Restaurant has a wide choice of dishes such as pizzas and fish. Finally Naturally Scrumptious is a deli and cafe serving homemade food and selling a range of foodie products.  

Healthcare 

With New Quay around 6 miles away, depending where you choose to live, this is where you’ll find the closest GPs surgery. The New Quay Surgery is located on Church Road, and is open Monday to Friday from 9.00am until 6.30pm. 

There is also an Integrated Care Centre at Aberaeron, also around 6 miles away, which includes the Tanyfron Surgery. The surgery is open from 8.00am until 6.15pm Monday to Friday. 

You’ll find pharmacies in both New Quay and Aberaeron for any prescriptions required.   Central Pharmacy in New Quay is located on Church Street,  while Aberaeron has both a Lloyds Pharmacy and a Boots Pharmacy. 

For a dentist, the closest are in Lampeter where you can choose either the award winning practice Pont Steffan Dental Practice on North Road and (my)dentist on Market Place. 

For back issues we would also recommend an excellent chiropractor in Blaenporth (around 15 miles from these villages) – West Wales Chiropractors. 

For those moving to the area with animals, then the closest veterinary practice is Priory Vets in Aberaeron, which has a good reputation. 

Schools 

In this rural area the school your children go to will depend on where you choose to buy your new home in West Wales. 

Dihewyd has its own primary school, and depending on where you live, children from Oakford and Mydroilyn might go here, or to the primary school at Llanarth. Secondary education is offered at the Aberaeron Comprehensive School, which provides bilingual education. The school’s curriculum includes a good choice of subjects, as well as extra-curricular activities. 

Further education is also available locally at the Lampeter Campus of the University of Wales Trinity Saint David. This campus offers a choice of study options – full time, part time, online and distance learning – with courses ranging from History and Greek to Nursing Studies and Philosophy. 

Aberystwyth University is also less than one hour to the north. An award winning university, it offers undergraduate, postgraduate and online courses and attracts students from around the world. 

Finally, if your child has educational needs such as severe learning difficulties or autism, we would recommend Canolfan y Don at Aberporth School,  about 20 miles away. It has a fantastic range of 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 this rural corner of West Wales you will need a car to access the shops and various amenities of the surrounding area. While there are some bus services, these no longer run directly from Oakford, Mydroilyn or Dihewyd.  

The closest bus service is the T5 service from Llanarth or Gilfachrheda – you can view the full timetable here – which connects to towns including New Quay and Cardigan. Alternatively you can take the T1 bus service from Ystrad Aeron or Felinfach to the larger towns of Aberaeron, Lampeter and Carmarthen. 

You can find out more by using this journey planner. 

Find out more 

Cardigan Bay Properties is an award winning, specialist estate agent covering Ceredigion, Pembrokeshire and Carmarthenshire. To help your property search please 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 
• Property management and lettings – Click Here