Beautiful Ceredigion is home to a wealth of rural villages such as Tanygroes, Gogerddan and Blaenporth, each of which offers a choice of properties for home buyers. Combining country living with easy access to the Cardigan Bay coastline, and the services of the pretty market town of Cardigan, they offer the best of all worlds.

If you’re thinking of buying a home in West Wales you can find out more about the villages of Tanygroes, Gogerddan and Blaenporth below, or call us to discuss the attractions of each area in more detail.

You can also take a look at our other Location Guides to find out more about other towns and villages in this region. Wherever you choose to buy, we’re here to offer you expert advice and insight to help you find the right property for you.

History

From the legends of King Arthur, to stories of magic, historic castles and ancient sites, West Wales is awash with fascinating history to discover.

Not far from Tanygroes is the iron age hill fort of Castell Nadolig. The site is famous for a number of finds, including a pair of rare spoons – known as the Penbryn spoons – which were found by a tenant farmer in 1829 and which are now housed in the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford.

At Gogerddan, much of the village’s history centres around the Gogerddan Arms – a coaching inn dating back to at least 1889, when it was an important staging post on the journey from Aberystwyth to Whitland. It later became part of Buckley’s Brewery, who redeveloped the pub on an adjacent site and reopened it in 1965. The new building had a very distinctive, modern design and it became an iconic landmark. Today it is the home of the In the Welsh Wind distillery – read on to find out more about that.

In this part of Ceredigion you’ll also find the West Wales Airport, which was developed at Blaenannerch, two miles from Blaenporth. Dating back to 1939, it is renowned for providing a world-class Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) flying environment for training and demonstration.

Tourism & Recreation

Being just a few minutes from the fabulous coastline of West Wales, residents of Tanygroes, Gogerddan and Blaenporth can easily enjoy a choice of beaches and watersports.

One of the closest beaches can be found at Tresaith (around 2.4 miles away), which is a beautiful Blue Flag beach. Attracting locals and holidaymakers throughout the year, it is a safe, sandy bay with pretty rock pools. It is also famed for the Tresaith Waterfall – set at the northern end of the beach the River Saith cascades over the cliff tops down into the sea. Perfect for a refreshing shower! Tresaith also has a second beach, but to get there you cross below the waterfall and access is tide dependent so it’s important to check on timings.

Alternatively head to Aberporth (around 2.3 miles), where you’ll find two lovely sandy beaches and plenty of rock pools to explore at low tide. Very popular with families, you can also keep an eye out for the dolphins which live in the clear waters of Cardigan Bay.

The beaches of Cardigan Bay are also famed for great surfing. Whether you’re a novice or an experienced surfer, there’s a beach that will suit you. From the blue flag beach of Poppit Sands, with its gentle waves making it great for beginners, to the more challenging conditions of beaches such as Aberporth, it’s a great sport for all the family to try.

For anyone who prefers sailing, Tresaith has its own sailing club – the Tresaith Mariners. Alternatively, you can try sports such as water skiing and windsurfing, while for a more sedate pace you can enjoy great fishing, with species such as mackerel, pollack and turbot in the waters.

Away from the sea, the Ceredigion Coastal Path is renowned among walkers. Heading north from Cardigan and following the coast up to Ynyslas, this 60 mile route is a fabulous way to discover the coastline of Cardigan Bay.

Cycling is also a popular pastime here, with road cyclists enjoying the beautiful rolling hills and quiet roads of rural West Wales, and mountain bikers able to explore off-road with a range of tracks available.

It’s also worth taking time to discover the Internal Fire Museum of Power at Tanygroes. This museum houses the largest collection of working engines in Wales and you’ll find a range of events such as ‘steaming days’ where you can see the historic steam engines.

Another attraction of this area is the In The Welsh Wind Distillery at Gogerddan, which produces a range of craft gins and welsh whiskys and offers experiences such as gin tasting and making events.

Shopping

Part of the charm of this part of West Wales is the presence of small local shops and artisans selling all sorts of items. In Tanygroes you’ll find a Nisa store(CK Supermarket) for a good selection of groceries, and there’s also a Nisa Local in Newcastle Emlyn (seven miles away).

There’s also the charming Golwg Y Mor, owned by E&S Thomas. This is a family run shop that sells meats and a range of other tempting, home made products. For gift inspiration try Pottery & Paintings, set close to all three of the villages and offering a lovely range of pottery and artwork.

If you’re planning some home renovations you can also try Local Flooring & Tiles in Blaenporth, which has a good selection of tiles and flooring solutions for kitchens, bathrooms, living areas and outside areas.

For major supermarkets, banks, hairdressers and many other stores, head to the market town of Cardigan (about eight miles fromTanygroes). With a Tesco, Aldi and a Spar, all of the major grocery shopping requirements are covered, but you’ll also find a wide choice of smaller independent shops. Local butchers and bakers, surf shops, beauty salons and more line the streets. Plus there’s the fabulous Guildhall Market which is home to over 50 different shops and a great cafe where you can grab a coffee and watch the world go by.

For banking needs, Cardigan has a Lloyds, Barclays and an HSBC, and you’ll find shops selling everything from home appliances to jewellery and clothing.

Eating & Drinking

West Wales is gaining a growing reputation for fabulous food – from the freshest seafood to specialist bakeries and cool beach cafes.

In Tanygroes itself you’ll find the popular Emlyn Cafe, which serves drinks, meals and does a meals on wheels home delivery service, as well as hosting events such as bingo evenings – it’s a great part of the community.

In Blaenporth there is a fish and chip shop – the Taten Eirw – which is housed in the old school building and serves excellent cod and chips, along with burgers and pies.

For other restaurants you’ll find plenty of choice a short drive away. In summer try the popular beach shack at Aberporth called The Boy Ashore or at Tresaith beach try the Tresaith Beach Grill for some great drinks and food.

Also worth trying is the Ship Inn at Tresaith, which offers fabulous sea views and a tasty menu. Alternatively, head to Cardigan where you’ll find a wider choice of restaurants and cafes including the popular Bara Menyn Bakehouse, 1176 at Cardigan Castle and the fantastic Pizzatipi.

Healthcare

One of the first things many home buyers do when moving to a new area is register with the local healthcare services. The closest doctor for residents of Tanygroes, Gogerddan and Blaenporth is in Cardigan, where you’ll find the Health Centre. With five doctors and three nurse practitioners, this practice is open daily from 8.30am until 1pm and from 2pm to 6.30pm Monday to Friday (closed from 1pm – 2pm). E-consultations are also available for certain requirements, such as a sick note or test results.

For dental treatment there are two surgeries in Cardigan – the Charsfield Dental Surgery on Priory Street and Feidr Fair Dental Practice on Feidrfair. Both have three practising dentists and are open five days a week.

There is also an excellent chiropractor in Blaenporth – West Wales Chiropractors – which has practitioners who specialise in neuromuscular disorders.

Schools

If you’re considering moving to one of these villages with children, the accessibility and performance of primary schools will be one of the key factors influencing your decision.

Families in the villages of Tanygroes, Gogerddan and Blaenporth have a choice of primary schools. One of the closest is at Aberporth – the Ysgol Gynradd school – which is just five or six minutes drive from the villages, depending where you choose to live. Set just 100m from the beach, this primary school is very popular with children and parents.

Alternatively, if you prefer to head towards Cardigan for primary education, you will find a small, local primary school in Penparc. This is a good option for parents who work in Cardigan as it offers easier drop-off and pick-up at the start and end of the day.

For secondary education, the central location of Tanygroes, Gogerddan and Blaenporth means there is a choice of schools. In Cardigan there is the Ysgol Uwchradd Aberteifi school, while in Newcastle Emlyn there is the Ysgol Gyfun Emlyn. Both of these schools have good reputations, so we would recommend visiting each one to see which suits your child best. School buses run from the villages each day.

In terms of colleges and further education, the Coleg Ceredigion in Cardigan offers a fantastic range of courses, including online courses and Apprenticeships. A well established college, you’ll find courses on everything from furniture design and childcare, to media and construction. There is also the University of Aberystwyth (just over 30 miles from Tanygroes), which offers both undergraduate and postgraduate courses in many subjects. Whether you’re looking for yourself or your child, there should be something that suits your interests.

Finally, we must mention the exceptional Canolfan y Don school. This specialises in helping children up to the age of 11 who have severe learning difficulties. It has built up an excellent reputation, and has an experienced team and a range of specialist facilities.

Transport

The villages of Tanygroes, Gogerddan and Blaenporth are all set amid beautiful West Wales countryside. While there are no rail services in the area, there are a number of bus services connecting the villages with Aberporth and Cardigan.

Take a look at this journey planner to check timings and schedules. There is a range of bus services which regularly serve the rural villages of this area. As a guide, the bus to Aberporth takes around seven minutes from Tanygroes, while the bus to Cardigan takes around 11 minutes from Blaenporth.

While you’ll definitely need a car if you choose to live in this beautiful part of West Wales, if regular bus services are important to you we’re happy to help you check the latest schedules as part of your property search.

Find Out More…

If you’re planning to move to the areas of Tanygroes, Gogerddan or Blaenporth, you can find out more about the services available on these other websites…

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

Alternatively, please give us a call on 01239 562 500 and we’ll happily answer your questions to help you plan your move to Cardigan Bay or West Wales.