Cardigan Bay is on the Pembrokeshire Coast in West Wales. It is where my grandparents lived for many years, so I think I have been pretty much every year since I was a baby! I have spent many childhood holidays here over the years, so thought I would write a blog post about all the things to do in Cardigan Bay Wales.
Wander the shops in Cardigan Town
Ok, so there aren’t too many shops here in this little market town, but they have a few well-known high-street shops, as well as beach shops, coffee shops and art galleries. It can be nice to enjoy a slower pace, particularly coming from one the UK’s larger cities. Take a walk down to the bottom of the high street and you will find a pretty pub overlooking the river. There is also a small castle to explore too!
Feel the Soft Sand at Poppit Sands Beach
Me and my family go to Poppit Sands in Cardigan Bay every time we visit West Wales and is one of the best Cardigan Bay beaches. I swear, the sand is one of the softest sands I’ve walked on (and I’ve been on a fair few beaches across the world!). The beach stretches far out, sometimes it takes you 5 minutes just to walk from the sand to the sea! But this is only a bonus as there is so much room to play large ball games on the beach.
The cafe has a little beach shop selling beach stuff, ice cream, as well as tea, coffee and toasted sandwiches (very nice by the way). You can walk along the beach to the right, and all the way around until you see Patch beach over the other side, or you can walk the end of the beach on the left side, and explore the rock pools where you can find starfish and other marine life ( it’s fun for grown-ups too haha).
Walk Along the Coastal Path
There are so many beautiful coastal paths along the Pembrokeshire Coast. A lot of the beaches connect, and you will find yourself wandering from cove to cove. The coastal path’s vary in scenery so it’s worth taking your time to explore the area. Usually you will be able to find a path straight from the beach in most places.
Go for a Gentle Canoe Trip on the River Teifi
Heritage Canoes in Cardigan do canoe trips along the beautiful River Teifi. We tried this once, sharing a double canoe (which led to no arguments at all, uh-hum). The views are so pretty, especially when the suns out, and the guide will take you down the river at your own pace. There are some small rapids (if you can even call them that), which add a little excitement to the journey! There is also a wetland centre here with bird hides if you’re into bird watching.
Discover the Ruins at St Dogmaels Abbey
These 12th century ruins are free to visit and hold the remains of a pre-Norman church. They are quite impressive, situated in a small, unassuming town. They also have a museum, café, and gift shop here for refreshments after your visit. St Dogmaels Abbey is also very close to Poppit Sands beach, if you wanted to combine trips.
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Have Fun at the Cardigan County Show
The Cardigan County Show is a local agricultural show that has been running for years (usually every July). It is a lot of fun for adults and kids alike with livestock judging, art and craft stalls, activities for kids, entertainment and just general countryness!
Visit Picton Castle & Gardens in Pembrokeshire
Picton Castle & Gardens on the Pembrokeshire coast have beautiful walled gardens, a castle, bird of pray shows, you can even have your wedding here. The setting is very picturesque with the pristine green lawn set against the stunning castle. There is also a lovely woodland walk section, as well as some small art galleries. Great if you’re into history but also for those who love gardens.
Enjoy the picturesque town of New Quay, Cardigan Bay
New Quay in Cardigan Bay is a pretty little seaside town on the Pembrokeshire Coast, where you can enjoy fishing, boat trips, water sports and wandering around the traditional shops. If you’re lucky you may even get to see bottlenose dolphins in the bay. There are plenty of shops and pubs in New Quay and it makes a lovely base to explore surrounding areas.
Go for a Swim at Newport Beach
Newport Sands Beach in Cardigan Bay is another childhood favourite spot. We used to spend our days here floating on our lilo’s in the estuary around the corner from the beach (which is a lovely walk also). The waves can sometimes be a bit bigger here than at Poppit, where it’s usually quite calm, so if you like body boarding, give Newport a go. There is a small café selling ice cream and hot chocolate, which tastes extra delicious after going for a cold swim! (the water never really gets that warm unless it’s an unusual heatwave).
Rent Out a Cute Holiday Cottage in Cardigan Bay
In recent years, me and my family have stayed in self catering cottages in Cardigan Bay or holiday accommodation, like Airbnb’s, where you can discover some great finds. There are so many holiday rentals in Cardigan Bay, you will be spoilt for choice! This one just above was an Airbnb which had beautiful views, and a woodland walking path right down to the ocean.
Visit the Shops and Beach at Tenby, Wales
Tenby in Wales is a very popular seaside town which can get busy on a warm summer’s day. Tenby beach is beautiful with turquoise blue clear waters (there’s actually 3 beaches to choose from), a little cove to explore, as well as a stunning coastal path. The Tenby shops are worth exploring too, with a really pretty high street, as well as plenty of ice cream shops!
Try Sea Kayaking in Ceredigion
I usually rent our Sea Kayaks from the place in New Quay, but you can find these anywhere really, and they are a great activity to do your summer holiday in Wales. The place in New Quay has a cornered off section of the harbour, where you can freely use your sea kayaks, which can be really fun coming in the waves!
Visit the National Botanic Garden of Wales
The National Botanic Garden of Wales are definitely worth the visit and as there is so much to explore, you could easily spend a whole day here. If you love walking around pretty gardens and finding small art exhibitions, then make this a day trip. Perfect for all ages, there’s pretty wild gardens, formal gardens, a woodland walk, ponds, lakes, greenhouses, a Japanese garden and even a tiny fairy garden!
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Explore Patch Beach
Patch beach in Cardigan Bay is not best for swimming but great for walking and it has a great coastal path with gorgeous views out over the beach and villages. Its situated on the Teifi estuary and you can even cross over the estuary when the tides are low (this is only when tides are low, as when it gets deeper it can be dangerous to swim due to strong currents). There is also a caravan site and golf club close to the beach.
Go for a Morning Swim at Tresaith Beach, Wales
Travelling on the coastal path from Aberporth, you can walk to Tresaith beach quite easily. The beach is very picturesque, with sailing boats lined up along the edge. This tiny village is incredibly pretty and a lovely spot for a morning swim as it is so quiet and secluded on the golden sand bay.
Day Trip to St David’s Cathedral in Wales
St David’s in Wales is actually the smallest city in the UK. The cathedral at St David’s dates back to the 12th century and sits on a site of an old monastery, dating back even further to the 6th century. The views from both outside and inside the cathedral are impressive and worth a visit. The town itself is very pretty and it’s situated close to Whitesands Bay, which is a popular beach for surfers.
Get a Bike Hire in Cardigan Bay
Hiring bikes is always great fun right?! We normally hire them from either Cardigan high street or Newcastle Emlyn. From Newcastle Emlyn you could cycle down to Newport Beach and from Cardigan you can cycle all the way to Poppit Sands. The roads are quite hilly in Wales but if you want something easier, the path along by the wetlands centre in Cardigan is pretty flat (and very pretty too).
Spot Dolphins at Aberporth Beach
Aberporth in Wales is a pretty little spot, with two beaches popular with locals and tourists alike. It’s a great place to swim and explore the caves and rockpools, as well as spotting dolphins off its shores (locals see them quite regularly). Aberporth was a former fishing village and it is still a popular pastime here today.
Walk the River by Cenarth Falls
This beautiful spot is situated between Ceredigion, Carmarthenshire and Pembrokeshire and is a lovely place for a walk alongside the river. The Cenarth Falls look even better if there has been some rain too. You can take a walk by the river and then it leads up through some pretty woodland paths.
Hike Up Mt Carningli
Mount Carningli can be accessed from the south of Newport and is reasonably steep in areas but not overly challenging (just make sure to bring some wind/ waterproof gear as the weather can change quickly in Wales). If you make it the top, you’ll be greeted by 360-degree views over Newport and beyond. Here’s map of a 2 hour walk you can do here.
Cilgerran Castle
Cilgerran Castle is a National Trust 13th century castle ruin, which overlooks Teifi Gorge. It boasts stunning views over the river and beyond and is a fun place to explore the old ruins to grab some unique pictures. There’s a small café and gift shop here and the entry is only £3.80 (2020 price).
More reading: 2 Days in Edinburgh: The Ultimate Weekend Guide
I hope you enjoyed this place on all the places to visit and things to do in Cardigan Bay, Pembrokeshire. This really is such a pretty part of the UK and would suit those who love to be outdoors and walking or exploring cute fishing villages and harbours. What’s your favourite place from the list above? Comment below!
*Please note that some these attractions may be closed temporarily due to COVID, so please check before you travel!
30 Comments
Cardigan Bay looks so beautiful! I have only visited London in the UK and wished we could have seen more of the beautiful UK! Coastal Path looks stunning and so relaxing to walk along. I’m excited to add Caridgan Bay to my UK bucket list!
Although I love london theres defo more to see in the UK so yes come back haha
Love this! Such great tips! I need to visit Wales. It’s so pretty and I would love to rent a cottage right by the Bay. Thanks for sharing!
You won’t find it hard to book a cottage but remember the best ones get booked out quite a few months before.
The coastline is sooo flipping pretty! I love the idea of walking along the coast here. (Poppit Sands Beach is such a good name for a beach too!)
But mostly I’d like to hike up to Mt Carningli, and visit all the castles. I might have to visit next time we’re in Wales. 😀
Oh you should, there are so many hidden gems in this area!
I never knew Wales had so many nice beaches! I will have to come and explore them!
Yes it does haha But it does help when the suns out 😉
What an incredible cathedral!! I’d love to visit and learn the history of it – especially since it dates back to the 6th century!! INSANE!!
It’s actually the site thats 6th century but the cathedrals still pretty old haha defo worth a visit 🙂
I absolutely love Wales, will be using this guide to plan our upcoming trip *when restrictions allow* thank you for sharing all these spots that you’re so familiar with!
Aww no worries, hope you have a great time 🙂
I love this part of Wales and I’m always looking for new ideas for things to do here. I’d also thoroughly recommend Tenby, both the for pretty town and impressive beaches. We enjoy hiking here so I’ll be checking out Mount Carningli next time we’re down!
Yes you definately should! And Tenbys always a fav 🙂
I never knew about this place but it looks so georgeous. I especially love the cathedral!
yes thats a very pretty place 🙂
Cardigan Bay looks like such a peaceful place. I would love to visit the castles, the ruins , and the seaside.
Yes it can be very quiet in places, great for outdoor lovers!
Wales has so much to offer! It looks stunning!
Yes indeed! 🙂
I have been to Wales, but quite long time ago.It would be nice to visit it again as I see from you post that there are much more pleces to see there. I would love to visit the Cenarth Falls for sure! Thanks for sharing!
Yes definately a lot of hidden gems there!
Wow so many great things to do! I have to admit, I had never even heard about Cardigan before reading this. But it looks like such a great place to spend some time in summer. I love places where I can explore old ruins 😀
Yes Cardigan is quite small but there are lots of places to visit around the area 🙂
Looks like so many amazing things to do here! especially DOLPHINS!
Yes I know! I saw them once from one of our holiday cottages as it had a view out to the sea!
I have only been to Wales once, but I loved it! I hope to go back to the country and explore more. There looks to be so many cool things to do in Cardigan Bay. I will definitely add it to my list for my next visit! I would love to see dolphins at Aberporth Beach.
Yes it’s a lovely litte area 🙂
Cadigan bay looks charming, so many things to do! What time of year would you recommend visiting?
Summer would be best as you can go for a swim in the sea! (it will still be cold though!).