Llangrannog
is a small village on the west coast of Wales. Located at the end of
a 
narrow
winding road many would pass it by on the way to the larger resorts
of Aberporth and New Quay. But Llangrannog is the perfect location
for a quiet seaside holiday with miles of coastal paths to walk, one
of the most picturesque beaches in Wales ... not just one but two
fantastic sandy coves. The village is squeezed into a narrow valley with
a few cottages sprinkled about on the hill sides. The small seafront
just about contains two cafes, two pubs (the Pentre Arms and the Ship)
a general store and a small terrace of cottages. Yes, very small but
perfectly formed.
Understandably car parking is tight in Llangrannog and there is a charge
for parking in the pub car park but this has the advantage of putting
you right on the seafront and when we visited there was an option to
refund the parking charge against a meal in the Ship Inn. (Free parking
is available some way back down the lane)
The two cafes / restaurants are more than enough for such a small village,
both serve a selection of meals ... the Patio Cafe also serves home
made ice cream while the Beach Hut Cafe not only also offers fish and
chips to eat in or take away but the biggest mugs of tea in West Wales!
The general store, Siop Glynafon, supplies beach goods, souvenirs, buckets
and spades, wet suits, childrens surf boards and also acts as an off
licence.
B
ut the jewels in the crown of Llangrannog are the wonderful beaches.(It
seems that they may have lost their Blue Flag status in 2008, maybe due
to the excess rain of 2007, but they looked perfectly clean to my
eyes)
The main beach, Llangrannog beach or Traeth y Pentref, sits between
two massive headlands and looks out past
Carreg Bica (the huge rock) to the blue seas of Cardigan Bay. It is a
glorious family friendly and sandy beach. The second beach, Cilborth
Beach, is another sandy cove and even more secluded than Llangrannog
beach. But unless you visit at low tide you will have to be very fit
to reach Cilborth beach as at high tide the beach is only accessible
via some very
very steep
steps. (But this does not faze the local kids as you can see from the
pictures below)
2008 marks the opening of the Ceredigion Coastal Path which cuts through
the village of Llangrannog. The clifftop views are fantastic and one
can be sure that more and more people will be finding this hidden gem
of the Cardigan Coast.
Mind you when I say that this is a hidden gem I would be brought to
task by all the present and past members of the Urdd, the Welsh youth
movement, as thousands of their members have been enjoying holidays in
Llangrannog for many years. Indeed it was my wife Eira Wyn who brought
Llangrannog to my attention as she remembers holidaying here with the
Urdd some 47 years ago!
Directions: Take the A487 coast road between Cardigan and Aberystwyth.
Take the B4334 at the village of Brynhoffnant signposted Llangrannog
. Car parking: There is a small car park adjacent to the beach for a
charge. Further free parking is available in the upper part of the village
although spaces are at a premium during the summer months.
