The Local Area
Dream, discover, dine and adventure your way around the spectacular Ceredigion Heritage Coast and the outstanding natural beauty of the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park. There’s also a huge amount of attractions in West Wales to enjoy for all ages. Try wildlife-filled nature trails, panoramic coast path views, castles, coasteering, dolphin-spotting boat trips and of course, those fun-packed family beach days. Gardener’s Cottage makes a superb base to discover the delights of both counties of Ceredigion and Pembrokeshire. Here are just some of our favourite things to do in West Wales.
Cardigan Town
Half a mile from Gardener’s Cottage on the shores of the Teifi Estuary, you’ll find the market town of Cardigan. The perfect one-stop-shop for all amenities, with independent shops, chemists, supermarkets, a weekly market, an arts cinema – Theatr Mwldan and the recently restored Cardigan Castle. There are some amazing art galleries in the town such as Canfas Art Gallery, showcasing some of the best Welsh contemporary art available. So, it’s the perfect place if you want to take home an original art piece as a special memory of your holiday in West Wales.
After shopping, make sure you book a spa treatment at the elegant Cliff Hotel and Spa. It’s just north of the town, perfect for a spot of pampering, after all, it’s what holidays are all about!
The Teifi River
The Teifi River is the longest in Wales. Beginning in the Cambrian mountains and finally entering the sea at Cardigan. Wild and beautiful, the Teifi is well known by Game fishermen for its abundant salmon and sea trout. Keen anglers can book a package with Teifi River Guides with activities suitable for all anglers, a peaceful way to enjoy life by the water at its best.
Nature lovers can relish the wildlife at The Welsh Wildlife Centre. A 270 acre nature reserve on the Teifi marshes near Cilgerran. With its organic café bursting with homemade deliciousness, a gift shop with local crafts and a children’s play area. There’s an ever-changing list of wild activities from pond dipping, bat listing, to meeting owls, this is one of the most magical nature attractions in West Wales.
Discover Dolphins & More
Awaken the senses immersed in the fresh sea air on a perfect family fun boat trip in Cardigan Bay. View dolphins, seal and sea birds with A Bay To Remember. Their exhilarating boat trips around Cardigan Island and Mwnt make a memorable boat trip for all ages.
Or if you fancy a spot of history, step back in time at Castell Henllys, a unique reconstructed Iron Age village with a visitor centre and cafe. There’s a programme of events from craft demonstrations to children’s activities and guided tours throughout the year.
Award-Winning Enterprise
West Wales is well known for its award-winning artisan cheesemakers, you can pay a visit to Caws Cenarth Cheese, a working family farm with a Visitor centre. Experience the cheese-making process from start to finish and sample some of their delicious varieties too – Yum!
More local artisan crafting attractions in West Wales include a wonderful gin making experience at ‘In The Welsh Wind Distillery’, award-winning maverick crafters of bespoke gin and whisky. Or pay a visit to Melin Tregwynt, a Welsh woollen mill famous for their beautiful Welsh woollen blankets, throws and cushions, many adorn the beautifully decorated rooms at Gardener’s Cottage.
Dream Beaches
One of the most popular attractions in West Wales pristine coastline. Both Ceredigion and Pembrokeshire have hundreds of glorious beaches and coves to explore. Superb local beaches include; Poppit Sands, a blue-flagged bathing beach with over half a mile of sand to enjoy along with a lunch cafe, watersports and RNLI shop. More beaches to visit in West Wales include Tresaith, Penbryn, Llangrannog, Aberporth, Ceibwr Bay, Newport Sands, Aberbach, and Cwm yr Eglwys, Further south find the delights of Barafundle, Broad Haven and Little Haven. In addition, many local West Wales beaches are dog friendly and will allow dogs on all or part of the beach all year round. To find out exactly which are dog-friendly beaches and when they have seasonal restrictions check out this link: UK Dog-friendly beach guide.
Ready to start planning your next holiday in West Wales? Looking forward to exploring breathtaking scenery from our secluded luxury holiday cottage? Use the link below to check availability.
Family Adventures
Treasure a family day out in West Wales with endless activities for children and adults to dive into. Try Coasteering, Kayaking or Rock climbing with Adventure Beyond, Cardigan Bay’s outdoor activity centre. Out of the water, children will love a visit to Folly Farm Adventure Park and Zoo, winner of the ‘Best Family Day Out in Pembrokeshire’ award, a full fun packed day with outdoor adventure parks, an indoor vintage funfair, and an ever-expanding zoo including penguins, lions and giraffes.
Other family favourites easily accessed from Gardener’s Cottage include: Cardigan Island Coastal Farm Park, Teifi River Guides, Dr Beynon’s Bug Farm, and Hanger 5 Trampoline Park.
Dine
After discovering so many attractions in West Wales, you’ll definitely work up an appetite! Sit back and indulge, with both Pembrokeshire and Ceredigion fast becoming home to some of the best places to eat in the UK, you’ll find seasonal dishes to satisfy even the most discerning palate. This coastal food mecca is bursting with local restaurants, pubs and cafes using locally grown delicious produce. CRWST an artisan bakery in Cardigan is a real favourite, with pancake stacks and doughnuts to die for, plus they allow well-behaved doggies inside whilst you dine. Take-away or dine alfresco at the Pizza Tipi in Cardigan, a riverside courtyard that specialises in stone-baked pizzas, or visit El Salsa if you fancy award-winning Mexican food
A short drive into Pembrokeshire you’ll find the lovely town of Newport, jam-packed with outstanding eateries to try, from The Golden Lion pub with an extensive bar and restaurant menu to fine dining at Llys Meddyg with locally foraged ingredients. Also, The Canteen for the perfect menu after visiting Newport Sands beach, enjoy a homemade pizza and local craft beer from Bluestone Brewing.
Ready To Book Your Holiday In Wales?
We have 3 amazing places to stay in Wales all immaculate with stylish decor and locally made finishing touches. At Gardener’s Cottage, Ty Sherwood and Headland Cottage, you’ll find the ultimate West Wales holiday accommodation set in the superb scenery of Ceredigion and Pembrokeshire. If we can help with any further information about your next holiday in Wales, please get in touch.