Cardigan is a market town on the coast of Ceredigion. It’s best known for Cardigan Castle, of which only the original walls remain, and the Teiifi River which flows through the town and into Cardigan Bay, giving it its Welsh name, Aberteifi, meaning ‘Mouth of the Teifi’.
Cardigan is an important cultural town as it’s where the National Eisteddfod debuted. This is an annual Welsh-language festival, which was first hosted at Cardigan Castle in 1176 and is now a key part of preserving Welsh culture.
Today, the town hosts its own annual Welsh language festival, Gŵyl Fawr Aberteifi, and has a thriving alternative arts scene with craft shops, independent fashion brands, and cafes-turned-galleries lining its cobblestoned high street.
It's also an excellent base for exploring the southern parts of Ceredigion. I recently visited Cardigan, and in this guide, I'll share the best things to do along with some tips for getting the most from your trip.
Where To Stay in Cardigan
Most of the best accommodation is around 10 minutes or so outside of the town itself. Here are my top picks:
The Cliff Hotel & Spa (££) - A 3-star spa hotel with coastal views and affordable prices. Guests get 1-hour of spa access each day.
Gwbert Hotel (££) - This 4-star hotel sits on the bank of the River Teifi with big modern rooms and an onsite bistro. I recommend booking a sea-view room!
Where To Eat in Cardigan
- Cegin 1176 - Part of Cardigan Castle (no ticket required), this restaurant has an upmarket feel and serves classic Welsh dishes including Welsh rarebit, Welsh steak, and cockles.
- Crwst - A cute cafe with incredible baked goods, all-day brekkies, brunches, and delicious coffee. I'm a big fan of the cinnamon buns.
- The Ferry Inn - A waterside restaurant in St Dogmaels with great river views. They specialise in locally caught seafood (other meat and vegan options are also available).
1. Visit the ruins of Castell Cilgerran
Although Cardigan town centre is home to a castle, this wasn't my favourite castle in the town since it's more like a manor house inside. To experience a proper Welsh castle, take a trip to Castell Cilgerran less than 10 minutes away.
Here, you'll find the ruins of an impressive 13th-century castle including towers you can climb with panoramic views across the Teifi gorge with Coedmore manor in the background.
Castell Cilgerran is managed by CADW. The castle visitor centre is only open from Friday to Sunday over the summer when the entrance fee is £5.80 for adults and £3.40 for children.
When the visitor centre is closed, you can still visit the ruins for free.
2. Explore what's left of St Dogmael’s Abbey
St Dogmael’s Abbey was founded in 1120 on the site of an earlier pre-Norman church.
The abbey is now in the care of CADW and is free to visit. You can wander around the ruins, enjoying the tranquillity of the area. Helpful signage explains exactly what you are looking at and allows you to imagine how the abbey looked during its prime.
There's a small visitor centre in the abbey’s restored coach house which gives some information about the history of the abbey. There's also a cafe here which has a courtyard facing towards the abbey.
I combined a visit to the abbey with going on a dolphin spotting trip and visiting Poppit Sands Beach as they are all located near one another. More on these later.
3. Relax on Poppit Sands Beach
There is no shortage of stunning beaches along the west coast of Wales, but one of my favourites has to be Poppit Sands.
Poppit Sands is a beautiful sandy beach alongside the estuary of the Teifi River that stretches for around a mile and is backed by sand dunes. It's one of a handful of beaches in Ceredigion to have a Blue Flag award which recognises cleanliness, safety, and overall quality.
Lifeguards patrol the beach during summer making it a great spot for families. You can go swimming, rock pooling, or relax on the sand. However, I advise that you bring a windbreaker as the wind can blow sand around the beach.
The waves here are gentle which is good for beginner surfers or bodyboarding (although Gwbert Beach is better for seasoned surfers). There’s also good parking availability with public toilets and a cafe in the car park.
For more information, see my guide to visiting Poppit Sands here.
4. Spot dolphins on a tour with 'A Bay To Remember'
Cardigan Bay is home to a resident population of dolphins, porpoises, and seals. The dolphins come quite close to shore and can often be seen from beaches and clifftops in the area.
However, the best way to see them is by taking a dolphin-spotting boat tour with 'A Bay To Remember' which departs from St Dogmaels just outside of Cardigan.
You'll board a RIB boat and head out to sea with a knowledgeable guide. On my trip, we encountered a family of dolphins less than 10 minutes into the trip and they came super close to the boat as you can see in the photo here.
We also visited caves and saw other wildlife including seals and birds. I can highly recommend this trip, it's very family-friendly although you cannot take dogs on the RIB boat.
5. Explore the nature trails at the Welsh Wildlife Centre
The Welsh Wildlife Centre is a large nature reserve managed by the Wildlife Trust with several great walking trails that are perfect for getting into the wilderness and spotting birds, otters, and other wildlife.
There's a visitor centre and cafe which are open 10am-4pm from Wednesday to Sunday, however, you can visit and explore the trails any time of day, even when the visitor centre is closed.
There are several trails of varying difficulty including one that is pram and wheelchair-friendly, making it a great family-friendly activity.
Kids can also take part in a scavenger hunt on the way around with a pack that can be purchased for £1 at the visitor centre. Dogs are also welcome but must be kept on a lead and are not allowed indoors.
However, I had more luck spotting wildlife on the longer trails, such as the gorge trail. There are fewer crowds so the wildlife isn't scared away as easily. I'd also recommend taking binoculars if you have some.
The trails are totally free, however, parking is fixed at £4 (or free for Wildlife Trust members). The visitor centre sometimes run activities for kids such as a minibeast safari or craft workshops which are £4 per child.
6. Ride down the Teifi River in a heritage canoe
Also located at the Welsh Wildlife Trust, you'll find Cardigan Heritage Canoes. On a tour with them, you'll make your way down the Teifi Gorge in a traditional open canoe past wildlife habitats and ancient woodlands. Kingfishers, dragonflies, and salmon are among some of the wildlife you can expect to see.
This small group guided tour lasts for two hours and can accommodate 2 to 3 people per canoe. It's perfectly suitable for all abilities and anyone aged 3 upwards. However, be aware that the minimum booking size is two people as you cannot use these canoes by yourself.
To find out more and book your trip, visit their booking page here.
7. Spot a waterfall at Tresaith
Just 20 minutes north of Cardigan by car, you'll find Treaith Beach, another of Ceredigion's Blue Flag beaches. But, what sets Tresaith apart from the others is the waterfall that falls over the cliffs directly onto the beach and into the sea.
The waterfall is most impressive during winter or after heavy rainfall when the water powers over the edge. I visited in summer during nice weather so the waterfall looks a little less impressive in the photos above.
Even when the waterfall isn't flowing strongly, the beach is still worth visiting. It's great for relaxing and is manned by a lifeguard during summer too. The rock pools are also fun to explore with children.
The sea here is suitable for kayaks and paddleboards, however, there is no hire shop so you'll need your own equipment.
See my full guide on visiting Tresaith Beach to find out about where to park and for information about dog restrictions during summer.
8. Walk the Cilgerran Gorge Circular Trail
Keen hikers will be forever occupied in Cardigan and its surrounding areas with your choice of coastal walks, mountain walks, and even gorge walks such as this one down the Cilgerran Gorge.
The walk starts and ends at Dolbadau car park in Cilgerran and encompasses several of the other things in this article so you could include them all together. You'll walk down the gorge, through the Welsh Wildlife Centre where you'll also find the Heritage Canoes) and past Castell Cilgerran.
Although only medium in length, this is a strenuous route through the gorge so the 4-mile route will take around 3 hours without stops. Find out more about the trail here.
If you want an easier route, you could catch a bus up to Cilgerran Castle and walk back to Cardigan alongside the river, information about this route can be found here.
6. Visit a grotto made from shells at Cilwendeg Hermitage
One of the more unusual things to do near Cardigan is to visit Cilwendeg Hermitage, better known as the shell grotto. This is a former chapel on the Cilwendeg estate that has been rebuilt and decorated entirely in native sea shells, minerals, and coloured glass.
If you are passing by on a Thursday (it's only open one day per week), I recommend popping in, although it's not worth a trip especially.
The hermitage is free to visit, although I recommend that you leave a small donation to help maintain the property (cash only).
10. See the giant cardigan at Stiwdio 3
Stiwdio 3 is a community space on the high street that comprises a cute little cafe, small makers studio where local crafters can work, and a small shop that sells some of the items they make including gifts, cards, and wrapping paper.
The makers also run craft classes and workshops, this includes everything from screen printing to upholstering. You can view the full schedule and book classes here. The cafe is open from 10am Monday to Saturday. They have a main menu which is served until 3pm then cakes and light bites until 4pm.
At Stiwdio 3, you'll also find the Cardigan cardigan. No, that's not a spelling mistake. There really is a giant knitted cardigan on display. It took an army of 200 volunteers over 8 months to make the 5m wide garment which details the history of the town
Fun Fact: The garment known as a cardigan is not linked to the Welsh town of Cardigan. It is named after the knitted wool waistcoat worn by British Army Generals in the 19th century, most notable James Brudenell who was the 7th Earl of Cardigan (a title in the English peerage).
11. Feed alpacas at Cardigan Island Coastal Farm Park
Located 3 miles outside of Cardigan in Gwbert is Cardigan Island coastal farm park, a unique farm come tourist attraction that's an excellent day out for all ages.
Whilst at the farm you can spend some time walking around enjoying the epic views, or grab a bag of animal feed from the shop and feed the animals as you go. Expect to see alpacas, guinea pigs, ponies, rabbits, and more. Kids can play farm-themed football games and build things in the construction zone. https://cardiganisland.com/food-drink/
As the farm is located on the coast it welcomes visitors daily from 10am-6pm between April and November. The entry cost is very reasonable, with adult tickets costing £4.90 and children £3.90.
12. Take a scenic boat trip With Dai Crabs
If the idea of rowing down the Teifi in a canoe didn't tickle your tastebuds, you can swap out the paddles for an engine with Dai Crabs Boats. You'll journey onboard the Diana Ellen, an old crab and lobster fishing vessel that has been restored by a local craftsman.
On this one-hour evening tour, you'll go from the jetty near the castle in Cardigan town, down to the mouth of the estuary in Gwbert. You'll learn about the history of the once-thriving fishing and ship-building industries in Cardigan, plus you'll get some great photo opportunities along the way.
The cost is £15 for adults and £5 for children. Typically there are only 1 or 2 trips per week and it depends on the tide conditions which impact the river. Find out more on Dai's website here.
13. Try footgolf at Trenewydd Farm
Located approximately 10 minutes outside of Cardigan is Trenewydd Farm, which has a footgolf course available for just £5 per person. But, what is foot gold I hear you ask? Well, it's exactly what the name says, it's a golf course but you have to kick a football into the holes rather than using clubs and a golf ball.
The 9-hole course at Trenewydd Farm is nicely situated and is not too long at 772 meters, making it an activity that can be enjoyed by the whole family. Trenewydd Farm also offers accommodation and is an excellent choice if you’re looking for somewhere to stay close to Cardigan
This is also a great place to stay in Cardigan at Trenewydd Farm Holiday Cottages.
14. Enjoy baked goods from Crwst
With two locations in Cardigan (one in the town centre and another at Poppit Sands) is Crwst, a family-run cafe and bakery that makes THE MOST INCREIBLE baked goods as well as all-day brekkies, brunches, and delicious coffee.
Not only is the food great (trust me, the cinnamon roll you see above is the best I've ever had), but they also try to be sustainable where possible which is something I really like.
This includes using locally sourced flour, meat and vegetables, coffee beans that are roasted locally using renewable energy, and they donate to reforestation projects
A fun fact about Crwst is that they have delivered doughnuts to the Welsh football team!
If you’re planning a visit, please note that the town centre cafe is only open between 10 am – 4 pm whereas the Poppit Sands venue is open 10am-6pm daily.
Related Question
Is Cardigan Castle Worth Visiting?
No, Cardigan Castle is not worth visiting. Aside from the walls, which are best viewed from the outside, the original castle is no longer there. Instead, there is now a manor house which was built in the 19th century and some displays. Although these displays are interesting, they are not worth the steep entrance fee. If you want to visit a castle, I recommend taking a trip to Castell Cilgerran just outside of Cardigan, this is free and far more impressive.
Of course, we should still support these historic buildings, so a good way you can contribute is by visiting the castle's restaurant called 1176 where you can enjoy a delicious lunch, afternoon tea, or dinner at reasonable prices. You can enter the restaurant from the outside, without going through the castle.
Published: 11 August 2022 · Last updated: 1 October 2023