Located just over 11 miles from the county town of Carmarthen and about a 10 minute drive to the charming town of Llandysul, the villages of Pencader and New Inn offer the best of Welsh country living, while ensuring easy access to a range of shops, restaurants and services.

In addition, Carmarthen is connected to London by train, adding to the popularity of the town and its surrounding villages.

To discuss your move to West Wales or Cardigan Bay, please get in touch. We’ve lived and worked in the area all of our lives and are always happy to share our knowledge to help you find the right location for your next property purchase. 

You can also read more about the other towns and villages of West Wales in our location guides.

History

West Wales has a rich and varied history, taking in everything from legends of ancient kings, to battles against the English, and the more recent development of the textile industry. 

Pencader itself was the site of a battle in 1041 between Gruffyd ap Llywelyn and Hywel ab Edwin, with Gruffyd going on to become the first and last King of Wales. The village is also the site of an ancient castle, believed to date back to 1145.

More recently, Pencader had a long history with the railways, being part of the line connecting the industrial northwest of England to the Welsh coast. Unfortunately, passenger services to Pencader ended in 1965.

New Inn developed where two roads crossed, and by the mid-19th century it was the main area of commerce. However, the development of the railway at Pencader led to that taking the commercial lead and trade from New Inn declined after just a few years.

Tourism & Recreation

This picturesque corner of West Wales has a lot going for it. The countryside is home to fantastic walking and cycling trails, both of which are very popular here. 

Beyond the immediate vicinity of Pencader and New Inn, there are the rolling hills of West Wales and the incredible coastline of Cardigan Bay.  Try walking all – or part of – the famous Ceredigion Coastal Path, which runs 60 miles around the coast from Cardigan in the south to Ynyslas in the north.

Pencader and New Inn are around a 30 minute drive from the Cardigan Bay coast, giving easy access to the many water sports available there. Surfing is particularly popular, with lessons widely available if you are just starting out. You can also try water skiing, wakeboarding, kitesurfing and sailing – at Tresaith there is the Tresaith Mariners sailing club.

The clean waters of Cardigan Bay and the renowned River Teifi are both popular spots for fishing. Llandysul has its own fishing club – the Llandysul Angling Association – which has several permit types available.

If you prefer to relax on the beach, then West Wales has some of the best beaches in the UK.  Aberporth is very popular with families, thanks to its two beautiful sandy beaches with rock pools. Alternatively, Penbryn, which is owned by the National Trust, has almost one mile of sand, while Llangrannog beach is very pretty and has cool beach cafes and traditional pubs.

If you’re interested in wildlife then the area is home to some wonderful birds and animals, including buzzards, red kites, and dragonflies. Head to the coast and you can also discover the myriad of sea life that makes its home in the clean waters of Cardigan Bay, including seals and dolphins.  

If you prefer a swimming pool and gym then Llandysul has the Calon Tysul. The swimming pool offers a range of lessons, while the centre also offers activities such as climbing and gymnastics, along with a fitness suite. It also provides a wide range of children’s sports such as netball, basketball, table tennis and trampolining.

Shopping

Both Pencader and New Inn have a range of local shops and services, while a short drive away you’ll find more choice in Llandysul, Carmarthen or Cardigan (about 24 miles away).

In Pencader don’t miss trying the delicious bread and cakes at the Pencader Bakery, and there is a convenience store for essential groceries, as well as Speedy Sofas furniture store – if you’re looking to furnish your new home! In the area you’ll also find local garages, kitchen fitters and more.

In Llandysul there’s more choice for grocery shopping, alongside many independent stores selling everything from clothes to outdoor gear. The main food shops here are a Spar and a CK Foodstore, while other stores include a butcher, a newsagent, a barber, a lovely retro book shop Nyth Y Robin, and a fantastic stove and cooker shop – Arcade. 

For banks, larger supermarkets and a much wider choice of shops, Carmarthen is just 11 miles away, where you can find plenty of retail therapy!

Eating & Drinking

West Wales is home to a growing range of fabulous foodie places – from cool beach cafes to gastro pubs and local restaurants.

In Pencader try Branney’s Fish & Chips and Cafe, for freshly cooked fish, chicken and pies. 

There’s also Y Talardd, a local pub and restaurant in Llanllwni – a short drive from Pencader and New Inn – which serves freshly made food and hosts events such as quiz nights.

In Llandysul there are more choices of restaurants and takeaways. Try Y Porth, which has its Riverview Restaurant where you can enjoy dishes such as slow cooked beef, roast monkfish, and Torbay sole baked in garlic butter. There’s also Buon Appetito for good Italian food, and Chef China or the Taj for a takeaway.

If you like good food and are also looking for somewhere special to stay during your house hunt, the popular Daffodil Inn at Penrhiwllan is about eight miles from Pencader. Listed in the Michelin Guides, this country pub and restaurant also has accommodation – shepherd’s huts with hot tubs! 

Also close by is Norwood Gardens and Tea Rooms, which offers beautiful gardens to enjoy followed by a cup of tea and a scone or slice of cake. It’s also worth keeping an eye out for upcoming events from Veganishmum, a pop up restaurant that serves a great range of dishes such as curries and sticky toffee pudding. 

Healthcare

Moving to a new town means registering with new healthcare providers. If you choose to live in Pencader or New Inn then the closest GP’s practice is in Llandysul. 

Here there is a choice of either the Llynyfran Surgery which is located on Llynyfran Road with both doctors and nurse practitioners or the Teifi Surgery on New Road. Alternatively, there is the Teifi Surgery on New Road. 

There is also a dental practice in Llandysul – the Cottage Dental Practice, located at Rhydowen. 

If you are moving to the area and have animals or a pet, then Tysul Vets are based in Llandysul. They are open Monday to Friday from 8.30am until 6pm, and from 9am to 1pm on Saturdays.

If you have back problems we would also highly recommend West Wales Chiropractors in Blaenporth – about 18 miles from these villages.

Schools

There is a very good primary school in Pencader, which welcomes pupils from the surrounding villages. Cae’r Felin School also has a pre-school for children from two and a half years old. Alternatively, there is a primary school at Llanllwni, not far from New Inn. 

If your child has severe learning difficulties, then there is also an excellent school in Aberporth, around a 30-minute drive from these villages, for children up to the age of 11 – Canolfan y Don.

Secondary education takes place in Llandysul at Ysgol Bro Teifi. This is a purpose-built combined primary and secondary school, which was opened in 2016. It provides a wide range of facilities, such as an astroturf sports field, a recording studio and a drama studio.

As your children grow up, or if you’re interested in further education or online study, Carmarthen has the Coleg Sir Gâr and the Carmarthen School of Art, which was founded in 1854. These affiliated colleges offer an extensive choice of subjects, including computing, business, hairdressing, tourism, 3D design and animation.

If you’re interested in university education for yourself or your child, then the University of Wales Trinity St David has a Carmarthen Campus. The university offers undergraduate and postgraduate courses, as well as part-time study, apprenticeships and PGCE courses in a wide range of subjects.

Transport

While there is no longer a train service to Pencader, there is a bus service connecting Pencader and New Inn to the larger towns of Carmarthen and Lampeter – you can find out more about the timings here. You can also check other bus routes and timings on this journey planner.

However, we would recommend that if you are thinking of living in this rural part of West Wales a car is essential to access all of the facilities and services available.

Find out more

Please contact us if you’d like to find out more about life in Pencader and New Inn, and to be first to hear about new properties coming onto the market.

You can call us on 01239 562 500 to discuss your property search or email us via our Contact us Page.

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 and Here
• Primary schools – Click Here
• Transport – Click Here and Here
• Property management and lettings – Click Here