We’ve just returned from a fantastic week exploring the beautiful Cardigan Bay. After many trips to Pembrokeshire and the Gower we couldn’t wait to explore this part of Wales. Although our foreign holidays have been on hold for a while it has been a great opportunity to see more of the UK and luckily, we only had a few days getting drenched. This part of Wales is absolutely stunning with a breath-taking coastline, gorgeous sandy beaches and a bit of a foodie culture going on. Here are our top sights to visit during your family holiday in Cardigan Bay:
Cardigan
We found a reasonably priced holiday rental in Cardigan which turned out to be a great base. It didn’t look fancy from the outside but it was newly renovated inside, had a huge garden with swings and just 10 minutes’ walk from Cardigan town and riverside. Check it out here. Cardigan is a working market town so it doesn’t have the holiday vibe of other towns and villages along the coast but has a nice feel to it with small, independent shops, a castle and some great places to eat. We ate at El Salsa, a fantastic Mexican takeaway with outdoor seating several times. Ty Hen Printworks, a new restaurant serving small plates from local produce with a Welsh influence was also a nice treat. You need to order quite a few plates but the food was exquisite and complemented by delicious cocktails. The kid’s menu is also good. We couldn’t get a table at Pizzatipi but this cool riverside eatery looked great too.
Poppit Sands and the Teifi Estuary
At the mouth of the Teifi estuary, this gorgeous, long sandy beach is in a lovely setting surrounded by rolling fields. It has an unspoilt feel to it and even in August, didn’t feel too crowded but also benefits from a car park just across the road and a café run by Crwst, a popular Cardigan brunch spot. The salted almond and honey ice cream here was so good. Dogs are also allowed on most parts of the beach all year round.
Places to eat –
Teifi Waterside Hotel – lovely pub food, kids play area and a wonderful spot to watch the sunset over the estuary teeming with wildlife.
Ferry Inn Pub – Another beautiful location right on the riverside. Food here is good but a little on the pricey side.
Cardigan Island Coastal Farm Park
This is what you call a farm park with a view. Literally on the cliff top, the vistas from the play area across the waters are spectacular and the murmuration of birds swirling and swooping through the sky is mesmerizing. You can feed the goats, sheep, donkeys and pigs and visit the rabbits and chickens but the stars of the show have to be the seals and dolphins. If you follow the coastline around a little further from the farm animals, you’ll come to a view point on the headland which is an ideal spot for watching the seals play in the caves below and dolphins feeding in the reef in the distance. We were lucky that they both made an appearance for us. Find out more about this fabulous park here.
Aberporth
A small village with a few beachside cafes and a pub, it’s perfect if you prefer somewhere chilled. The sandy beach here is certainly popular but not too busy. The waves were gentle but good enough for a bit of body boarding and there are craggy rockpools to explore. For lunch we stopped at Cwtch Glanmordy for sandwiches and local crab salad. Overlooking the beach and village, you can’t beat the view from here.
The coastal path here is so beautiful and you can walk for miles covering the villages and beaches of Tresaith, Penbryn and Llangrannog. We just made our way along the cliff top for a short walk and then back again. The paths are well maintained and backed by flower filled fields and farmland.
Llangrannog
This is a charming little coastal village with a pleasant beach and access to the Ceredigion Coast Path. To reduce traffic in the village (although there is a car park next to the beach if easy access is required), they have put in a free car park at the top of the hill, just a 5 minute walk away. We parked here and then made our way to the beach and then on to the coastal path. We followed it on to the Ynys Lochtyn headland where you have spectacular views and the kids loved watching the adrenaline junkies climbing the sheer rock faces and jumping off the cliff edges. Away from all the crowds, you feel like you’re on top of the world. After our walk we were going to stop at the beach which is dog friendly all year round but due to a high tide it was very crowded. For lunch we stopped at the delicious Tafell a Tân Ar Lan y Môr for takeaway wood-fired pizzas.
New Quay
New Quay is a great seaside town and has a similar feel to Tenby in neighbouring Pembrokeshire. A popular place with a lively harbour area and boat trips coming and going in the hope of spotting the resident dolphins. We ventured out on a stormy morning with New Quay Boat Trips and managed to spot a few in the distance. A fishing trip later on in the week with Epic Fishing Trips was more successful with them coming up close to the boat. There are several beaches with the one closest to the harbour being more crowded and not dog friendly but the second larger beach in the bay has a lovely long stretch of sand to play on. Cardigan Bay Watersports are located next to the lifeboat station where you can hire kayaks and paddle boards – make sure to book in advance though. This was our first time paddle boarding and the sheltered bay was perfect for gaining some experience. There was also a safety boat on patrol in case you drifted out a bit too far.
Devil’s Bridge Falls
After taking a scenic drive from the coast and up through the Cambrian Mountains, we reached the incredible Devil’s Bridge Falls. There are two trails to choose from. We opted for the 45-minute route which takes you through woodland down into the deep gorge where you can marvel at the sights and sounds of the spectacular 300ft waterfall cascading down. At every turn you are met with different views. The kids loved this walk and weren’t phased by the 675 steps. There were a few slips and tumbles on Jacobs Ladder with its 100 steep steps though.
The shorter route (20-30 minutes) including the three bridges and Punchbowl is ideal for families with pushchairs and those who are less mobile.
If you’re based near Aberystwyth, the Vale of Rheidol Railway is a more exciting way to visit the Devil’s Bridge Falls. Taking an hour each way, you will travel on a restored Edwardian steam train through the beautiful Rheidol Valley and its ancient woodland.
Aberystwyth
There was something nostalgic and charming about Aberystwyth. Not as polished and quaint as some of the surrounding coastal towns and villages but it’s Victorian promenade with fish and chips, ice cream and amusements made for a fun afternoon. The old Gothic college which is soon to be reopened is a grand building standing majestically on the seafront and just round the corner you’ll find the castle ruins offering views across the seafront. If you catch The Hive ice cream van parked outside, try the yummy honey ice creams made just down the road in Aberearon.
Newport
It was heavy rain when we visited but we did enjoy the most amazing Welsh Cawl at Blas at Fronlas. The cakes looked amazing too. We attempted to head to the beach but the rain was just too heavy by then. Newport Sands is great for families with a broad, dune backed, sandy beach.
If this sounds like your kind of holiday, read about our other Welsh trips to Pembrokeshire, The Gower and Snowdonia.
Fam Full of Wanderlust 