With the popular town of Newcastle Emlyn close by, the villages of Penrhiw Llan, Aber-banc and Llandyfriog are a good choice for house hunters looking to enjoy the picturesque countryside of West Wales, while still having easy access to essential amenities. 

The Teifi Valley Railway is one of the most popular local tourist attractions, but there’s also the beautiful Cardigan Bay coast and pretty Henllan Bridge to explore, as well as walking and cycling along the famed River Teifi. 

If you’re looking for a house for sale in Ceredigion, please get in touch with us and we’ll be happy to share our knowledge of the area. You can also read more about the other towns and villages of West Wales in our location guides. 

History 

Part of the attraction of living in West Wales is the fascinating history that exists everywhere. From Bronze Age remains, to mediaeval castles and woollen mills that were at the forefront of more recent history, there’s plenty to discover. 

Llandyfriog was the birthplace of Gerard H.L. Fitzwilliams, a British physician and a World War I spy in Russia. You can also visit St Mary’s Church and Llandyfriog Castle Mound, which includes the remains of the church, a motte and a ditch dating to mediaeval times. 

At Aber-banc the Nant Gwylan and River Cwerchyr join the River Cynllo, and on the north eastern bank of the Cynllo there are several Tree Preservation Orders to protect the area. The village also has a Methodist Chapel, which is now a listed building. 

Tourism & Recreation 

With the stunning Cardigan Bay coast just a short drive away, as well as historic Newcastle Emlyn, Llandysul and Cardigan, these villages offer easy access to a whole range of activities for all ages. 

The famed Ceredigion Coastal Path runs 60 miles from Cardigan in the south to Ynyslas in the north and is popular with walkers and mountain bikers. Explore this path and you’ll have stunning views out over Cardigan Bay – keep an eye out for some of the wildlife that lives here, including dolphins and seals. 

If you prefer a more relaxing visit to the coast, there are plenty of beaches to enjoy. Owned by the National Trust, Penbryn Beach has wonderful golden sand, while popular Tresaith Beach has the famed Tresaith Waterfalls – where the River Saith cascades over the cliff tops into the sea. The beaches at Llangrannog are also popular with families and surfers, and if you fancy getting into surfing there are plenty of places to take lessons. 

Other water sports available on the coast include sailing – you can find out more about the Tresaith Mariners, as well as kayaking, water skiing and kite surfing.  

If you’re a keen equestrian you’ll enjoy exploring the bridleways and quiet roads of this picturesque area, and on the other side of Newcastle Emlyn there’s the Starlight Riding Centre, which has a luxury indoor school. 

In Newcastle Emlyn there’s a  leisure centre, with facilities including a swimming pool and a gym. You can also book in for swimming and aqua fitness sessions, general fitness courses, or to use the squash courts  or athletics track.  

Newcastle Emlyn also has its historic ruined castle, and no visit to this town would be complete without a walk to the magical waterfalls at Cenarth (about eight miles there and back from Newcastle Emlyn).  

Just south of Aber-banc is the narrow gauge Teifi Valley Railway, which provides a two-mile ride aboard a train pulled by a steam engine. For families there’s also crazy golf, a play area and a cafe, providing plenty of entertainment.  

Finally, at picturesque Henllan Bridge, you can enjoy lovely woodland walks or visit the Henllan Bridge Prisoner of War Camp, which housed 1200 Italians during World War II. 

Shopping 

The villages and countryside in this area are home to various specialist, independent shops, but for more choice and general shopping, Newcastle Emlyn is the closest town. 

In Penrhiw Llan there’s a convenience store for essential items, as well as The Sewing Room if you need any items making. At Aber-banc there’s Cadwells Kitchens if you want to update the kitchen in your new home, while in the area towards Henllan is Stove Works Wales, as well as Shipp & Co Hampers for local, sustainable food and drink gifts. 

In Newcastle Emlyn, you’ll find a range of independent shops, from the Soap Shack which sells handmade soaps and bath products, to The Welsh Wool Shop, Fair & Fabulous gift shop and The Makers Mark craft shop, as well as local butchers, clothes shops and jewellery stores. There’s also a Co-op Food and a Premier convenience store. 

Around 10 – 15 minutes’ drive away, in Llandysul, there are additional shops including a Spar and a CK Foodstore, as well as a butcher, a fruit shop, and an antiques shop.  

You’ll find the major supermarket chains such as Tesco, Aldi and Spar, in Cardigan (about 20 – 25 minutes away). Steeped in history, this pretty market town has plenty of local shops to explore, including in the Grade II listed Guildhall Market, which has over 50 specialist stalls.  

In Cardigan there are also branches of Lloyds, Barclays and HSBC, however Lloyds Bank also currently offers a mobile banking service that regularly comes to Newcastle Emlyn. 

Eating & Drinking 

With a choice of countryside eateries, as well as cafes, restaurants and pubs in the larger towns, there’s something for all tastes in West Wales. 

In Penrhiw Llan you’ll find the popular Daffodil Inn, a lovely pub that prides itself on serving fresh food using local ingredients. Try the traditional Sunday lunch, or treat yourself to sea bass or a vegan katsu curry. 

At nearby Henllan you should visit The Leeky Barrel Welsh Bistro and Shop, which serves Welsh lunches, teas, coffees and desserts – a great place for a light lunch or afternoon tea. 

In Newcastle Emlyn try Y Cwtch Coffi for delicious cakes, coffee and other drinks, or visit Harrison’s Brasserie, which has a lovely riverside garden beside the River Teifi – it’s open as a cafe in the day and a steak restaurant in the evening. There’s also the Bunch of Grapes, a popular pub and restaurant, as well as Y Sgwar and The Three Compasses, where you can try a range of beers and have a meal if you’re hungry. Newcastle Emlyn also has takeaways such as China Kitchen or the Moonlight Indian Restaurant. 

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Healthcare 

Once you’ve found your new home in Ceredigion, then it’s important to register with a GP and a dentist. For residents in these villages, both are available in Newcastle Emlyn.  

The Meddygfa Emlyn is Newcastle Emlyn’s medical practice, located on Lloyd Terrace in the Adpar area of the town. It is open Monday to Friday from 8.00am to 6.30pm and offers morning and afternoon surgeries as well as a range of specialist clinics. 

Perhaps surprisingly for a small town, there are two dental practices to choose from – Emlyn Dental Care, located on Church Lane, and Teifi Dental Centre at Emlyn Square, as well as two pharmacies – a Boots Pharmacy and the Bridge Pharmacy. 

If you’re moving to the area with a pet or other animals, then the Castle House veterinary practice at The Drovers in Adpar, is open Monday to Friday from 8.30am to 5.30pm, and on Saturday from 9.00am to 1.00pm. 

Finally, if you are looking for an experienced chiropractor we would recommend West Wales Chiropractors in Blaenporth (about 20 to 25 minutes away). 

Schools 

West Wales is becoming increasingly popular with families thanks to the rural lifestyle, range of activities and good schools. Depending on where you live, your children will either go to school in Newcastle Emlyn or Llandysul.  

In Newcastle Emlyn Ysgol Y Ddwylan is a primary school offering bilingual (English/Welsh) education, while for secondary education Ysgol Gyfun Emlyn is also bilingual and offers a range of after-school activities, as well as options such as the Duke of Edinburgh Awards scheme. 

In Llandysul Ysgol Bro Teifi is a state-of-the-art school that opened in 2016, providing both primary and secondary education. It was developed with input from teachers, pupils and education advisers, and provides facilities such as a theatre, an astroturf sports field, a recording studio and more. 

If you have a child with severe learning difficulties or autism then this area is well served by the exceptional Canolfan y Don at Aberporth School (around 20 to 25 minutes from these villages). This specialist school welcomes children up to the age of 11. 

There are also several choices for further education. Coleg Ceredigion in Cardigan is well established and offers both academic and practical courses, including part-time study. Courses here range from furniture design to IT and healthcare. 

In Lampeter, the University of Wales Trinity St David, provides both undergraduate and postgraduate courses, alongside part-time, distance learning, and apprenticeships, while the University of Aberystwyth is around one hour away and has a choice of undergraduate, postgraduate and lifelong learning courses available. 

Transport 

Moving to this rural corner of West Wales means that a car will be necessary. While there are some local bus services from Newcastle Emlyn to towns such as Cardigan, recent changes have stopped the 612 service connecting Llandyfriog to Newcastle Emlyn. 

You can check bus routes and timetables by using this journey planner.  

Find Out More 

As an award-winning, specialist estate agency in Ceredigion, Pembrokeshire and Carmarthenshire, we have an expert team to help you find your perfect property. Please call us on 01239 562 500 to discuss your property search. 

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