Within 20 Minutes

Gwbert

Less than 10 minutes from the hotel is the beach at Gwbert. Less crowded than Poppit Sands across the estuary, you are allowed to park on the beach for free. After walking around the dunes, when the tide is at its lowest, it is possible to walk as far as the village above the cliffs. Dogs are allowed on the beach all year round.

Gwbert Estuary
Gwbert from the Beach
Gwbert rocks

Mwnt

10 minutes further north of Gwbert is the small cove of Mwnt. The roads are very narrow, so be careful. There is a church on the hill & steps down to a lovely little beach. When open, be sure to try the fresh baked Welsh cakes from the kiosk on the way down & keep your eyes peeled for dolphins & porpoise.. This is a National Trust site so there is a £4 charge for parking your car here unless you are a member. Dogs are not allowed on the beach May 1st – September 30th.

Mwnt steps
Mwnt cove
Mwnt Beach

Poppit Sands

This is a popular beach but it is massive, so no need to worry about overcrowding. There is a pay & display car park which charges between March & November. The tide goes out a long way here & there is plenty of beach for a long walk, as well as dunes behind. Be careful though, especially with your dog, as the dunes are an adder habitat. There is also a cafe at the end of the car park. Dogs are allowed on certain parts of the beach all year round.

St Dogmaels

St Dogmaels village lies on Pembrokeshire’s northern county boundary, along the river Teifi just below Cardigan town. St Dogmael’s is the most northerly access point onto the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Coastal Path. 

In the heart of the village is the ruined St Dogmaels Abbey next to the church, this was founded in 1113 as a Priory and later gained Abbey status. A heritage centre and tea room have been opened in the grounds of the Abbey this has been developed sympathetically to fit in grounds of the Abbey.

St Dogmaels Abbey
St Dogmaels pond
St Dogmaels Market

Aberporth

Located 5 miles north of Cardigan is the beautiful coastal village of Aberporth. This popular village has two beaches, one of which allows dogs all year round.

There are plenty of places for refrehments here, including a chip shop, cafe & pub. There is also a lovely alfresco cafe perched up on the hill overlooking the bay. Parking can be difficult in peak season but there are car parks dotted around.

Aberporth Beach
On the beach at Aberporth
Aberport beach from up high

Cenarth Falls & Village

Cenarth is a fascinating village on the border of Pembrokeshire, Ceredigion and Carmarthenshire. The focus of the village is Cenarth Falls, a series of small waterfalls and pools on the river Teifi and a well-known salmon leap.

The Falls are a natural beauty spot. The falls range from quiet and peaceful when the river is low, to an impressive force of nature when the river is in full flood. It is never the same. There is a Car Park at the Falls. Parking is £2.50 per car for all day parking (9am – 6pm). Please be careful near the Falls themselves as the rocks are slippery and uneven, and the water is dangerous.

There has been a mill at Cenarth since the 13th century when Cenarth mill came into the possession of Edward I when he became Lord of the Manor of Cenarth.

Cilgerran Castle

It is possible to walk to Cilgerran from Flambards, either along the River Teifi  which takes approximately 1 hour but prepare for a big climb once below the castle or through the woods beside Hammet House, which some spectacular views down the ravine to the stream below & unexpected structures like the one pictured below, on the right. The second half of the journey this way is along country lanes.

Cilgerran is one of the most spectacularly sited castles in Wales. Its two great round towers loom high above the deep gorge of the River Teifi and the fast-flowing stream of the Plysog.

The perfect spot, you might have thought, from which the invading Anglo-Normans could defend their newly conquered lands. Take the thrilling wall-walk from the east tower to understand just what a daunting obstacle it must have presented to the rulers of the ancient kingdom of Deheubarth.

But it wasn’t quite impregnable enough. Probably first built as a ‘ringwork’ castle in 1108 by the Norman adventurer Gerald of Windsor, Cilgerran changed hands many times over the next century or more.

It was only in 1223 when the dashing earl of Pembroke, William Marshal, built ‘an ornate castle of mortar and stones’ on top of the original site that Norman control stood firm. Despite the best efforts of Llywelyn ap Gruffudd and Owain Glyndŵr, Cilgerran never again fell to the Welsh.

Cilgerran Castle from entrance
Cilgerran Castle
Walk to Cilgerran Castle

Ffynone Woods

Ffynone and Cilgwyn Woodlands are situated in West Wales, about 7 miles south of Cardigan, in North Pembrokeshire. Located in a secluded valley, the woodlands extend to 325 acres 10% ancient woodland. Ranging from fairly flat valley bottom to steep valley sides, the woods have four rivers and a waterfall, with the remnants of the ancient woodland – including veteran oaks – mainly located around the river system.

 

Ffynone Woods
Ffynone Woods Waterfall