Discover the beautiful sandy beaches, miles of stunning walks, lush countryside and gastronomic treats of West Wales. Ideally located just a stone’s throw from the bustling market town of Cardigan, with its artisan shops and cafes, and just a short drive to the Pembrokeshire and Ceredigion coast, the area offers countless places to visit and activities to try
Eat & Drink
Cardigan and the nearby villages offer a large choice of eateries to try: in Cardigan you will find Crwst, with an extensive brunch and lunch menu featured in several national newspapers, the Printworks offering cocktails and small plates for sharing, and in St Dogmaels the Ferry Inn gastropub serving delicious dishes using local produce is a must in its stunning river-side setting.
Beaches
There are so many beautiful beaches to choose from: Blue Flag listed Poppit Sands is located at the end of the Teifi estuary just outside Cardigan, with sand dunes to climb, miles of sand to walk across when the tide is far, far out, rock-pools to explore and Cardigan Island to gaze onto; just a little further are Llangrannog, with stylish beach cafes and the Pentre Arms pub, Tresaith with a waterfall cascading down the cliff, National Trust beaches at Penbryn and Mwnt, and many more.
Walks
Whether you like to gently amble, walk your dog, or hike for miles, the countryside and coast around Trewindsor Cottages will suit your needs. From the doorstep you can explore country lanes and woodland footpaths, laden with bluebells in the spring wild flower hedgerows in the summer. The Pembrokeshire and Ceredigion coastal paths are within easy reach, offering stunning views of the cliffs and coves, with regular sitings of dolphins, seals and seabirds. The Teifi Marshes Nature Reserve and Llys y Fran Reservoir convert visitors into avid bird-watchers.
Activities
The area around Cardigan is a fantastic place for water-based activities: dolphin-spotting boat trips from Cardigan or picturesque Newquay harbour; kayaking and paddle-boarding; sea, shore, freshwater or coarse fishing for the keen angler. For land-lubbers there is much to explore and learn at the Welsh Wildlife Centre, cheeses to sample at Caws Cenarth cheese, gin to make and sample at the award-winning In the Welsh Wind Distillery, 800 years of history at the ancient castle at Cilgerran, a medieval abbey ruin in St Dogmaels, and monuments to visit bringing the history of Wales to life.
History
The local area around Cardigan is steeped in history.
Discover the Benedictine abbey at St Dogmaels dating from 1115, stop for a coffee in the Coach House café or combine a visit with the local producers’ market on Tuesday mornings. Soak up the tranquility of the 13th century church at Mwnt Eglwys y Grog, in its stunning setting above the cliffs opposite Cardigan Island, before climbing the grassy mound to soak in the view all the way to the Llyn peninsular, and even spot Snowdon in the distance.
In the pretty village of Cilgerran, scramble round one of the most spectacularly situated castles in Wales overlooking the Teifi gorge. Just before picturesque Newport is Pentre Ifan, the largest and best preserved neolithic standing stones in Wales, made from the bluestone used at Stonehenge.
