Our Top 10 Walks in Cardigan Bay
21 JANUARY 2026 08:25
Cardigan Bay is packed with a range of walks, whether you’re looking to blow the cobwebs away on the coast path or enjoy a peaceful woodland stroll. It’s ideally situated to take advantage of both the Ceredigion and Pembrokeshire Coast Paths and National Parks, as well as wonderful permissive farmland. Brig y Don is an ideal base from which to explore this unique area, so please do get in touch if you’re looking for holiday accommodation in the area.
Here’s a rundown of 10 of our favourite routes!
Gwbert to Mwnt Coast Path
A new route has just opened up this previously road-based stretch of the Ceredigion Coast Path, passing through pleasant farmland before joining the coast with sweeping and dramatic views over sheer cliff edges. Keep an eye out for seabirds and dolphins as you enjoy a unique perspective of both Cardigan Island and the conical peak of Foel Y Mwnt. Get detailed directions here →
Distance: 3.5 miles approx (one-way)
Tip: Climb the conical hill of Mwnt at sunrise for the most amazing view!
Penbryn Circular Walk
We enjoy this lovely walk on windier days when the coast path seems less appealing! Plus we can never resist stopping at the Plwmp Tart café for a well-earned hot chocolate and homemade cakes. It takes you through woodlands and farm land (spot the swans as you pass the lake) and is also a great walk to do with children as there’s plenty of space to run around (excluding the road section) and the promise of ice cream at the end! Get detailed directions here →
Distance: 1.6 miles approx
Tip: If you’re feeling up to it, combine the first half of this walk with this second circular walk to make the loop around 3 miles long. Just turn right instead of left where the footpath forks in the second paragraph above, heading uphill. And don’t forget to pop down to the beach for a swim if the weather is warm enough!
Cilgerran Gorge Walk
This challenging yet rewarding route is for serious walkers, but combines deciduous woodland with riverside paths, a wildlife reserve and even historical churches. Take care here as some sections of the path are very narrow and eroded, but the views over the river are beautiful – see if you can spot a kingfisher or heron! Get detailed directions here →
Distance: 4.7 miles (approx 3 hours)
Tip: It’s well worth a detour into the Cilgerran Castle grounds which is believed to have been first built as a ringwork castle as far back as 1108, and finally as a stone and mortar fortress in 1223.
Poppit to Cemaes Head
If it’s coastal views you’re after, this is the walk for you! We always make sure to pack our binoculars as a range of seabirds are guaranteed to make an appearance on this stretch of the Pembrokeshire Coast Path. Between August – October you might even be lucky enough to spot Atlantic Grey Seals bathing on the small beaches below the cliffs (which also happen to be the highest sea cliffs in the whole of the Pembrokeshire National Park!). Get detailed directions here →
Distance: 4.3 miles (just over 2 hours approx).
Tip: Poppit Sands beach is a lovely, broad beach visible from Brig Y Don, just across the estuary! It’s also accessible via the free use of the National Park’s beach wheelchair for those less able. Pre-booking is available via this link, just pick up the chair from the cafe onsite. Our boys have enjoyed many a day a Poppit surfing or bodyboarding and, during the Summer months, the RNLI lifeguards make it a safe spot for families and children.
Cwmtydu Circular Walk via Cwm Soden
We think this walk is really unique as it combines the beauty of the Ceredigion Coast Path with wooded lanes and farmland. The gorse-filled cliffs are a hub for wildlife and there are even some iron-age remains of an old fort for the history buffs! Get detailed directions here →
Distance: 2 miles
Tip: Cwmtydu’s caves are synonymous with the infamous Welsh smuggler Sion Cwilt – a man who was reported to wear a patchwork cloak while stashing smuggled goods during the 18th century!
Ynys Lochtyn Circular Walk, Llangrannog
An absolutely must-do stretch of the Ceredigion Coast Path! You’ll find some of the best views in the county during this circular walk and the spectacular outcrop called Ynys Lochtyn (translated to Lochtyn Island). On a clear day you can even see North Wales over the sea in the distance! Get detailed directions here →
Distance: Around 1.5 hours depending on how long you stop to take in the view!
Tip: The large rock formation protruding out of the sea off Llangrannog beach is called Carreg Bica, which literally translates to Bica Rock. We can’t recommend the delicious pizzas in Tafell a Tan enough! And you’ll receive a warm welcome if you grab a drink in the Pentre pub.
Dinas Island – Pwllgwaelod to Cwm Yr Eglwys
This short route takes you from one side of the Dinas Head peninsula to the other. We highly recommend this walk if you’re visiting with children – it’s perfect for pushchairs and wheelchairs as it follows a tarmac surface between the picturesque cove at Cwm-Yr-Eglwys and Pwllgwaelod. Get detailed directions here →
Distance: 1.3 miles
Tip: We always find that on a windy day, either one side of the headland or the other remains sheltered, so this is a great walk for dodging some dodgy weather! The bay at Cwm-Yr-Eglwys is a lovely swimming spot and the pub at Pwllgwaelod offers refreshments.
Patch to Cardigan Town
The River Teifi is 76 miles long and has been a designated Site of Scientific Interest (SSI) since 1997. This gentle walk offers a fabulous view of the river as it meanders from Cardigan town to the mouth of the river at Poppit Sands/Patch. Get detailed directions here →
Distance: Approx 2-3 miles.
Tip: Cardigan is full of many delicious independent cafes, bakeries and eateries to tickle your fancy! Stop in Bara Menyn for the BEST croissants around.
Aberporth to Tresaith Coast Path
Most of this short route is very accessible for pushchairs and wheelchairs, taking you along the coast path from the lovely seaside village of Aberporth to Tresaith, accompanied by fabulous views. Get detailed directions here →
Distance: 1.5 miles one way (approx)
Tip: This route is dotted with several picnic benches with far-reaching, panoramic views over the sea, and is our favourite place for dolphin spotting on a calm day! Cardigan Bay’s 250-strong pod of bottlenose dolphins are never too far away.
Cilgerran Wildlife Park
The Welsh Wildlife Park is a fantastic spot for families as a nature reserve, a place to walk and play and there’s also a lovely café on-site too. Our favourite walking route is the otter trail, which takes you through woodland and wetland marshes via a boardwalk – there’s even some hides along the way for you to view an array of birds and wildlife. Get detailed directions here →
Distance: Approx 3 miles.
Tip: The centre regularly runs fun events for families and children, see what’s on here to plan your visit. Don’t forget to head to the picnic area slightly above the café to see the giant weaved wicker badger!
Short walks from Brig Y Don
If you’re not feeling up to venturing far for a trek, there are plenty of short walks just on the doorstep at Brig y Don.
Loop around Cardigan Golf Club
Turn right immediately at Brig Y Don and head towards the Flat Rock restaurant. Follow the corner right and follow the signs for Cardigan Golf Club. At the entrance to the Golf Club, continue on and follow the bridle path signs across the grounds. Joining a narrow tarmac lane, follow the lane down the hill past the viewpoint and rejoin the main road at Swallow Yachts. Turn right and the pavement takes you home to Brig y Don. You can add a loop by deviating onto Patch beach which has brilliant views over the estuary.
Tip: the Golf Club restaurant is open to non-members if you fancy a stop on the way. This walk can be done in either direction offering a different perspective and fabulous views!
Morgan’s beach
What we are about to tell you is a closely guarded secret for locals, but we’ll let you in on it… Turn right immediately upon exiting Brig Y Don. Walk through the car park at the Cliff Hotel and follow the signs for the foot path that takes you towards Cardigan Island in the distance. Keep walking until you reach the third and biggest of the sandy coves – this is Morgan’s Beach! This secluded spot is rarely busy and is a great place to swim at high tide. We often head here for BBQs at the end of the day as it’s a great spot to watch the sunset too.
Patch beach
This is a favourite of ours when we need a brisk walk to blow the cobwebs away! You can either park on the beach or walk down the hill from Brig Y Don (a pavement takes you all the way to the boat club just on the beach). At low tide, the beach expands considerably, offering a lovely, quiet spot to enjoy the sound of the waves.
If you've enjoyed any of these walks while staying with us at Brig y Don in Gwbert, please do let us know by tagging us on Instagram and Facebook or by dropping us an email at relax@brigydonwales.co.uk.