Set just a few minutes to the south of the lovely seaside town of New Quay, the three villages of Synod Inn, Cross Inn and Maen y Groes are becoming increasingly popular with house hunters in West Wales.

Maen y Groes is just 4 minutes’ drive from New Quay, 6 minutes from Cross Inn and 10 minutes from Synod Inn, with the larger towns of Aberaeron, Llandysul and Newcastle Emlyn around 15-20 minutes away (depending where you choose to buy) for more shops and leisure facilities.

If you’re looking for a home for sale in Ceredigion and want to combine rural country living with easy access to the spectacular Cardigan Bay coast, then read on to find out more about the appeal of this beautiful area.

You can also read more about the many other towns and villages of West Wales. in our location guides, while if you want to discuss your move with Helen or Tania then please get in touch.

History

The Ceredigion region of West Wales has a rich and varied history, with evidence of life dating back to prehistoric times and standing stones from the Bronze Age still visible. Having seen invasions by the Romans, raids by the Irish and the conquering of Wales by Edward I of England in 1282, there’s lots of history to be explored across the area.

Perhaps one of the most interesting elements of the history of this particular part of Ceredigionis to do with the famous Welsh poet Dylan Thomas, who lived in New Quay from 1944 – 45. It is said that many of the more colourful characters from the town became part of his well loved drama ‘Under Milk Wood’.

Tourism & Recreation

As specialist estate agents in Ceredigion, we’re here to give you expert insights into all aspects of living in the area. One of the key attractions for many people moving here is the lifestyle it offers, in terms of sports, activities and rural living.

The coastline here is fabulous, with the clean waters home to the famed Cardigan Bay dolphins, as well as seals, porpoises and other sea life. The scenery and coastline make it a popular place for activities such as bird watching, fishing and sports including windsurfing, canoeing, sailing and surfing – many locals will go for a surf after work or at the weekends! 

The closest beaches to these villages are at New Quay, which has three different beaches – Harbour Beach, Dolau and Traeth Gwyn. The sandy Blue Flag Harbour Beach is very popular with families and is where you’ll find Cardigan Bay Watersports, which offers everything from paddle boarding and kayaking to water skiing and wind surfing. You can take lessons with experienced instructors, and there are children’s classes in most activities.

Dolau Beach sits on the other side of the harbour wall and has pebbles, rocks and sand, and welcomes dogs throughout the year, while Traeth Gwyn is a much wilder beach.

The annual Cardigan Bay Regatta takes place every August on Harbour Beach, with a great atmosphere and a range of activities both on and in the water!

To the north of these villages is charming Aberaeron, with its colourful houses, shops, cafes and beaches. A little further south of these villages you’ll find Cwmtydu beach, which has a pretty little cove that was once loved by smugglers, and further down the coast is Llangrannog Beach, which has a main beach and a smaller second beach.

If you love sailing then Tresaith, about 10 miles away, has the Tresaith Mariners catamaran and dinghy sailing club. Fishing is also a popular pastime here, with miles of coastline to discover, and if you want to join a fishing club there’s the Llandysul Angling Association, which has the rights to over 30 miles of fishing on the River Teifi.

If you prefer land based activities, then head inland and discover a wide range of outdoor and adventure sports. Popular with walkers, the Ceredigion Coastal Path covers 60 miles of the coastline – from Cardigan in the south up to Ynyslas in the north. Road cyclists will love the quiet roads that criss-cross the countryside, while there are plenty of tracks and bridleways for mountain biking and horse riding. If you want some adventure then contact Llandysul Paddlers, who offer a range of sports including canoeing, river swimming, canyoning and climbing, all with experienced instructors.  

For keeping fit in a gym, there are leisure centres in both Newcastle Emlyn (which has a 25m swimming pool, spin studio and squash court) and Llandysul (which also has a swimming pool and a range of fitness classes). Alternatively, if you’re a cricket fan you may be keen to join the Llandysul Cricket Club, a friendly club which also has junior teams. 

Other attractions in the wider area include the ruined castle at Newcastle Emlyn, the Internal Fire Museum of Power – the largest collection of working engines in Wales, and the charming Teifi Valley Railway.

Shopping

While you won’t find large supermarkets in these rural villages, you will find a range of specialist independent shops.

Cross Inn has a lovely local store – Parc y Pant, where you can buy a range of fresh produce and essential items. It’s open daily from 8am until 5pm, and closed on Sundays.

In Synod Inn there’s the fabulous Popty Kates Bakery, which we’re sure you’ll love! Selling a range of incredible breads and cakes, as well as baguettes and pasties, this is a very popular shopping spot for many in the local area.

Between Cross Inn and Synod Inn you should also visit the New Quay Honey Farm, which sells a range of honey and honey based products including their home made mead. There’s also a fascinating bee exhibition here.  

For more shopping, New Quay has some lovely shops and cafes to explore. The Corner Shop is a convenience store and Post Office, and there are also gift shops, a butcher, and even a specialist guitar shop!

Aberaeron (10 to 20 minutes away depending where you live) also has a good range of shops, including the lovely Watson & Pratt’s organic food shop, the Partridge and Parr clothes shop, and the Elephants & Bananas gift shop. There is also a Costcutter here.

Alternatively, in Llandysul you’ll find a Spar and a CK Foodstore, as well as a butcher, fruit shop, a bookstore and a wood stove shop. For even more choice try Newcastle Emlyn which has clothes shops, food stores and the famed Cardigan Bay Brownies!

For major supermarkets residents here go to Cardigan (about half an hour away), where there’s a Tesco, Spar and Aldi, as well as major banks – Lloyds, Barclays and HSBC.  There is also a wide range of specialist stores selling everything from antiques and clothing, to surf gear and gifts.

Eating & Drinking

In Cross Inn the Penrhiwgaled Arms is a traditional local pub, serving a range of beers and freshly made food – including Sunday lunch! 

Also worth trying is The Moody Cow at Llwyncelyn (a short drive from these villages), a bistro and farm shop with the menu featuring a range of steaks and burgers.

You’ll also find plenty of choice in New Quay. If you fancy a coffee with friends try the New Quay Coffee Company or head to the Blue Bell Deli & Bistro, with its beautiful views, for breakfast, lunch or dinner with the menu including everything from eggs Benedict to soy and ginger barbecue ribs. 

In the pretty Georgian town of Aberaeron you’ll find some lovely cafes and restaurants to try, including The Stubborn Duckling which serves dishes such as crispy pork cheek and Welsh lamb. You should also visit McCowans Cafe, popular for its coffee, cakes and fabulous snacks such as homemade Welsh Rarebit.

Further south on the coast at Llangrannog head to the Beach Hut, a cafe and fish and chip shop that also serves local beers, wines and coffee. There’s also the Caffi Patio which serves fabulous ice creams, milk shakes and home made breakfast rolls! 

Healthcare

If you choose to live in Synod Inn, Cross Inn or Maen y Groes, then the closest GPs surgery is at New Quay – the New Quay Surgery, located on Church Road. It’s open Monday to Friday from 9am until 6.30pm.

Depending where you buy, there is also an Integrated Care Centre at Aberaeron, which includes Tanyfron Surgery where there are four doctors and a number of nurse practitioners. There are also GP surgeries in both Newcastle Emlyn and Llandysul. Llandysul has the Llynyfran Surgery, while Newcastle Emlyn has the Meddygfa Emlyn practice.

Both Llandysul and Newcastle Emlyn have good dentists. In Llandysul you can try the Cottage Dental Practice, while in Newcastle Emlyn there are two dentists – Emlyn Dental Care, located on Church Lane, and Teifi Dental Centre at Emlyn Square.

You also won’t be far from a pharmacy as New Quay has the Central Pharmacy, while Aberaeron and Llandysul both have a Lloyds Pharmacy and a Boots Pharmacy and in Newcastle Emlyn there is a Boots Pharmacy and the Bridge Pharmacy.

If you are looking for a good chiropractor we would also recommend West Wales Chiropractors in Blaenporth (around 20 minutes from these villages).

Pets are also looked after, with veterinary practices in Aberaeron – Priory Vets, Llandysul – Tysul Vets and in Newcastle Emlyn – Castle House.

Schools

Depending where you live, one of the closest primary schools is in Synod Inn, where there is the popular Ysgol Gymunedol Bro Siôn Cwilt, which is bilingual and was opened in 2010, providing a modern place of learning for children aged from 3 to 11. If you live closer to New Quay then you may prefer to send your children to Ysgol Cei Newydd, a welcoming school close to the the centre of town. Alternatively if you live towards Aberaeron there is also Ysgol Gynradd Aberaeron.

For secondary education there is Aberaeron Comprehensive School, a bilingual school which provides a broad academic curriculum and a range of extra-curricular activities. Alternatively there is the purpose built combined primary and secondary school Ysgol Bro Teifi in Llandysul. 

Further education is available at Coleg Ceredigion in Cardigan. This provides a wide choice of academic and practical courses – including apprenticeships and online study options covering everything from animal care and creative media to construction and the performing arts.

There is also Aberystwyth University, which is around 40 miles up the coast from these villages. A well established university, it attracts students from around the world and offers undergraduate and postgraduate courses, as well as online study and lifelong learning courses.

If you are moving to the area and have a child with autism or severe learning disabilities, we would recommend you find out more about Canolfan y Don in Aberporth (about 20 minutes away depending where you choose to live). The specialist team offers learning and development for children up to the age of 11.

Transport

If you choose to live in this rural area a car is essential, but you will find good regular bus services connecting these villages to New Quay, Aberaeron, Cardigan and Aberystwyth.

The T5 service, which connects Aberystwyth to Haverfordwest stops at Cross Inn and Synod Inn – you can view the full timetable here. 

You can also find out more by using this journey planner.

Find Out More…

If you’d like to find out more about the latest houses for sale in Ceredigion, please contact us on 01239 562 500 to discuss your property search. We’ve lived and worked in the area all of our lives, and are here to help you find the perfect location for your next home or commercial property in West Wales.

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