I am sorry but if you are looking for woolly, buttoned jumpers you have come to the wrong place. But if you are looking for the Welsh town of Cardigan ......please read on..

Cardigan sits on the mouth of the river Teifi, between the county of Pembrokeshire to the south and Cardigan Bay and the county of Ceredigion to the north. Cardigan was the county town and administrative centre of the historic county of Cardiganshire but we are more interested in its role as a tourist centre and the appreciation of its heritage and natural beauty. With a population of around 4000 [2008] Cardigan is a thriving market town and host to a number of popular festivals each year.

Town centre

The town centre mainly consists of the High Street running alongside the estuary and still retains its Victorian buildings and character. Off from the High Street you shall find Theatr Mwldan, where the annual Arts Festival is held. Also held in the town every June is the Gwyl Fawr, the town’s own Eisteddfod, the Welsh music and language festival. This is a nod towards Cardigan holding the first ever Eisteddfod centuries ago in 1176.

Cardigan’s High Street is the centre of the hustle and bustle of town life. Following a recent restoration scheme, many of the buildings have returned to their original character, with Victorian shop fronts and character. However, the Guildhall in the town centre, built in 1859, takes its character from the Gothic revival style inspired by the famous architect John Ruskin rather than the Victorian era, yet it is still a striking building. The coloured brickwork of the buildings is a trademark feature of Cardigan.

Close to the Guildhall there is a pleasant covered market standing beneath bold Moorish arches. Here you will find anything you could possibly wish for since there are several small stalls selling all sorts of things from crafts to food, so be prepared to find a fabric stall beside a delicatessen

The Small World Centre is Cardigan’s newest building and sits next door to Theatr Mwldan. It holds a lot of importance and significance to the people of Cardigan, as it was built by local workmen: every person who worked on the building lived within 20 miles of Cardigan, and even the materials come from the local area. So what is inside this strangely-named building? Just like its neighbour, it is a theatre.

Also in the town you will find many traditional shops, including craft shops, a butcher’s, baker’s (no candlestick maker) and a grocery store, as well as many inns and public houses where you can catch a bite to eat. Fortunately these buildings still maintain their Gothic and Victorian fronts to provide a warm welcome to visitors and to stay in keeping with the town’s period.

Attractions and Activities:

As the main town at the northern end of the Pembrokeshire Coastal Path, and the southern end of the Ceredigion Coast Path Cardigan is certainly a popular place for walkers. The surrounding countryside also offers plenty of beautiful places to cycle. Bikes are available from the New Image Bikes shop situated in the town. The eponymous Cardigan Bay is world famous as a haven for wildlife with dolphins, porpoises and seals  being regularly sited offshore.

Fishing

The Teifi is a fine salmon river and is arguably the best mixed game fish river in England and Wales. The river was a source of income for many locals over the years, but with over-fishing and today's over regulated society the river is now part of the leisure industry rather than the fishing industry. A few old timers can still be found however to recall the old days when they would fish the river in traditional manner, in ways past down from generation to generation. Sea trout approaching 10lbs. and salmon approaching 20lbs or more can be caught in the Afon Teifi. The best time for sea trout is from late May to early September and for salmon from August until October. Brown trout can be taken throughout the season.

Beaches

There are many beaches in the area surrounding Cardigan and all within easy access of the town. Whatever type of beach you are looking for, you will be sure to find it amongst the ten beaches nearby!

Sandy beaches

There is a wide choice of family beaches with golden sands and soft dunes: Llangrannog [12.1 miles], with its two beaches and with a dog ban in place between May and September;

Penbryn Beach [10.1 miles] which has shallow water ideal for children and plenty of wildlife around including porpoises, seals and birds;

The small Mwnt Beach [4.8 miles] which also has peaceful walks amongst its cliff tops;

Tresaith Beach [8.9 miles] with its magnificent waterfall and a Life Guard on duty;

Poppit Sands [10.2 miles] with its beach completed with sand dunes perfect to play hide-and-seek among;

Newport Sands Beach [10.2 miles] which is safe for bathing as a Life Guard is on duty 10am-6pm between July and August;

Aberporth Beach which attracts bathers and sailors because of its safe Life Guard policy.

Pebbled and shingle beaches

A number of these beaches are not appropriate for bathers but it is their views and walks that should really be appreciated. The following are either rocky, pebbled or shingle beaches:

Cwmtydu Beach, a little further away than the others [15.9 miles], is predominantly shingled with an area of sand exposed at low tide and includes water sports such as sailing, canoeing and windsurfing;

Ceibwr Bay Beach [7.0 miles], a secluded cove of pebbles and rocks which attracts visitors because of its rock formations and deep caves;

Newport Parrog Beach [10.2 miles] has an interesting ‘Iron Bridge’ where herons can often be seen; because of its unpredictable currents the beach is not suitable for bathing.

Surrounding Area

Although there is plenty to do in Cardigan itself, the surrounding area also offers plenty of activities to make sure your visit is enjoyable.

Cilgerran Castle

Situated 3 miles southeast of Cardigan, the present Cilgerran Castle is believed to have been built during the 13th century by William, earl of Pembroke. It has an incredible location sitting on a crag high above the gorge of the river Teifi and the original settlement could possibly have been the home of the famous adventurer Nest, the “Helen of Wales” who abandoned her husband and the castle in 1109 for her cousin Owain and later other lovers.
      Many artists have found the castle a stimulating subject, such as the artists Turner and Richard Wilson. By the 18th century a boat would travel up and down the Teifi taking tourists to see this wonderful monument.

Welsh Wildlife Centre

The Welsh Wildlife Centre is located just a small 4 miles from Cardigan and where the Teifi widens out into the estuarine marshland. A large and wide nature reserve, otters and seals are often to be spotted in the river, attempting to catch the salmon and sewin which the Teifi is famous for. There are also several species of birds, including the rare ‘Cetti’s warbler’.

The magnificent Visitor Centre, an award-winning three-storey timber and glass building perched on a glaciated hill, houses a large gallery and a café with panoramic views of the whole reserve.

The Welsh Wildlife Centre is definitely a place worth visiting if only for the Visitor Centre and with its short route from Cardigan, there’s no reason not to!

St Dogmael’s Abbey

The romantic ruins of this old abbey, situated just 1.5 miles from Cardigan, were erected in 1115. They are a rare example of Tironesian establishment, who originated from Tiron, Western France.
       Excellent Shakespearean plays are performed amongst the ruins each year during the summer months. The plays should definitely be watched because of the beautiful surroundings in which they are performed and more information can be received from the Tourist Information Centre found on Bath House Road in Cardigan.

Castle

The present ruins of the castle date back to around 1240. However, the first castle was a Norman motte-and-bailey settlement located at the bottom end of the estuary, unsurprisingly known as Castle Pool. In 1110 the second castle was erected by Gilbert de Clare along the eastern side of the pool and this is where years later the stone castle came to stand. It was in this castle in 1176 that the first Eisteddfod was held.

The castle has seen many conflicts and invasions during the medieval period, particularly between the Norman invaders of Wales and the Welsh princes, who felt that the castle was rightfully theirs. The castle changed hands between the Welsh and the Anglo/Normans several times over the centuries. During the 20th century it was privately owned and is now still strictly closed to the public, although it has recently been purchased by Cardigan council, who will hopefully restore it to its natural state. Not that the castle hasn’t seen any restorations previously: a Georgian villa was built in front of the old towers in the early 19th

History

Cardigan and its castle were founded in 1093 by the Norman Fitz de Montgomery, who probably saw the area has somewhere of economic fortune. From the Middle Ages Cardigan became a notorious trading port and ship building area and at one time was the second most significant port of Wales after Milford Haven. Such ships as ‘The Albion’ and ‘The Active’ began from Wales, taking Welsh people across the Atlantic Ocean to begin new lives in Canada and the USA.

Sadly the arrival of the railways and the silting of the harbour ended Cardigan’s days as an important Welsh port. although old warehouses still stand at the area of Castle Pool.

Churches

St Mary’s church stands on the east side of the river. Although a medieval church, the tower was added to the original structure during the 18th century.
       Cardigan is also the site of ‘Our Lady of Cardigan’, a famous Roman Catholic shrine. In the pre-English Reformation times, people knew as the statue of Virgin Mary, holding a candle which never extinguished. It is also known as the shrine to Our Lady of Taper.

Accommodation & Services

There is a frequent bus service running from Finch Square in Cardigan all the way to Poppit Sands ensuring that those who don’t have their own transport can still get about from place to place without walking!

For accommodation, there are plenty of hotels in Cardigan and the surrounding areas, as well as cosy self-catering cottages and welcoming guesthouses. If you want to stay outdoors with nature, there are plenty of camping sites and caravan parks about the town.

With all the visitor-friendly attractions open throughout the year, you can visit Cardigan whatever the weather. Just remember to bring your woolly cardigan if it’s cold!