West Wales is the perfect place to unwind with long sandy beaches, cascading falls and hidden swim spots. Here are some of the best bits.

Beaches

Penbryn – Great café (Plwmp Tart) & a walk through the woods to the beach. If you follow the coastal path north for approx 30 mins, you’ll find another ‘secret’ beach (Treath Bach) one of our absolute favourites and less busy than most (involves some rock scrambling & a nice steep hill).

Mwnt – Instagram worthy beach with iconic little church (pictured in the photo in the bedroom by local photographer Andrew Warren), spot some dophins!

Llangrannog – Boulder around the rocks, swim to hidden coves, buy ice creams & great pizza!

Cwmtydu – Pocket sized pebbly beach great for watching a storm. Walk 15 minutes north to find ‘Castle Bach’ cove.

Tresaith – Impressive waterfall & a pub (dine watching the setting sun). Walk to Penbryn along the beach at low tide – make it a circular walk by returning along the coast path.

Aberporth – A double sandy cove with a good chippy. Gets busy in the summer.

Aberfforest – Park in the layby on the main road & walk down through the farm yard to a quiet stoney cove. Walkback through the woods behind the beach to find a small waterfall.

Poppit Sands – Does what it says on the tin (loads of sand), large and open, great for pooches.

Waterfalls

Local

Cenarth – A pleasant stop en route to Cardigan, home to the coracle museum. An easy stroll along boardwalks following the Teifi River.

Ffynonne – Nestled in a wooded valley, easy walk through enchanting scenery, take your trunks, although it’s more of a dunk than a swim.

Henllan – White water falls in native woodland, further up the river you’ll find good swimming if the water level is reasonable.

Tresaith – See beaches above.

Further Afield

Devils Bridge & Hafod Estate – Three bridges built one on top of another, nature trail and falls. The nearby Hafod Estate has miles of well marked walking trails through majestic scenery and numerous impressive falls. 1.5hr Drive

Four Waterfalls (Breacon) – The one (or four) on everyones ‘to do’ list. Expect a 3 or 4 hour walk past (and even behind) some picture perfect falls. 1.5hr drive, a good detour if your coming to us from the West.

Pistyll Rhaeadr – A long drive from us (almost 3hrs), but if you’re traveling from the North of Midlands then a detour here will take you to one of the most impressive falls in the UK.

Wild Swims

Rosebush Quarry – A deep quarry pit surrounded by steep slate sides carved out by mining operations. Exect breath taking scenery but equally breath taking temperatures! The community owned Tafarn Sinc pub provides a good place to park and serves good food to warm you up after your dip.

Ceibwr Bay – A quiet, National Trust owned cove with stoney beach. following the footpath left whilst looking out to sea will lead you to a natural swimming chanel, somewhat protected by rocks a little way off the shore. A good place to spot seals, but please stay away from caves during mating season.

Henllan – Closest to the farm, Henllan offers a short stretch of the Teifi ideal for cooling off on a nice day. Walk upstrem from the bridge and falls until the river widens and slows.

Ffynone Waterfall – More dunk than swim, but there is something quite magical about being able to get right underneath a powerful waterfall. We couldnt leave this out, there are rumours this is the gateway to another world. Beleive the stories, or not, you can’t deny Ffynone has a magical energy.

The Blue Lagoon – In just about every ‘wild guide’ ever written, The Blue Lagoon has become a bit of a tourist trap. With good reason though, the remains of an industrial past sandwiched between rugged Pembrokeshire coastline create an enchanting protected pool of vibrant blue. Great coastering!

Stackpole – A bit of a drive but we think it’s worth it, Stackpole has a bit of something for everyone. The water here is crystal clear allowing fantastic snorkeling and in the right season you’ll see thousands of spider crabs on the sea floor. The quay wall gives excent protection for swimmers and for the more adventurous a launch pad for jumps into the water below (please make sure the tide is high if you’re attempting this and preferably speak to a local on site to check the conditions are right).

Cadair Idris – This is a long drive from us, but the hike makes it worth a trip, especially if you’re coming to us from the North. And the swim is sublime. Typical Snowdonia scenery and a great reward for the efforts of a challenging hike! We couldn’t leave this off the list.