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Newcastle Emlyn b&b, guesthouse and hotel accommodation

Visit Newcastle Emlyn and the surrounding villages and stay in bed & breakfast accommodation:

Newcastle Emlyn, Carmarthenshire, Castell Newydd Emlyn in Welsh, is a pleasant, friendly, and very Welsh little market town on the Teifi 10 miles East of Cardigan. Basically, Newcastle Emlyn consists of one street that turns to the right and left before dropping down on to the bridge across the river. Newcastle Emlyn is in Carmarthenshire, but Adpar, over the bridge, refused to be includcd in the urban district of Newcastle Emlyn, when this was formed in 1897. It still remains separate. The first printing-press in Wales was set up here by Isaac Carter in 1718, a fact commemorated by a tablet on a house near the bridge, set up by the Newcastle Emlyn Happy Winter Evening Entertainments Committee in 1912.

The Castle of Newcastle Emlyn stands on a grassy knoll, with the Teifi flowing round it in an S-bend that makes a natural moat. The New Castle was so called to distinguish it from the old castle built earlier downstream at Cilgerran. The New Castle was first constructed by the Welsh prince Maredudd ap Rhys of Dinefwr (Dynevor). His son, Rhys ap Marcdudd, rebelled against Edward I, after his conquest of Wales. The fortress was finally captured for the King in 1288, when the walls had been pounded by a “military engine” dragged across country from Dryslwyn in the Towy valley. In 1343. Llywelyn ap Gwilym was Constable of Newcastle. He was the uncle of Dafydd ap Gwilym, Wales's greatest medieval poet. The Castle and town suffered severely in the Glyndwr Revolt and fell into decay. Henry VII granted it to Sir Rhys ap Thomas after the Battle of Bosworth. Sir Rhys largely rebuilt it as one of his residences. During the Civil War it changed hands repeatedly. It was the last castle in South Wales to hold out for the King. The Parliamentarians then “slighted” it, leaving it a complete wreck. The ruins today are ivy-grown and romantic.

The church is comparatively modern and stands at the end of an avenue of lime trees. It was built in the 1840s, and enlarged eighty years later by W. D. Caröe. It is not unattractive; it makes remarkable use of slate from the quarries of Cilgerran. The material seems to be everywhere in the church. The interior is paved with large slabs of it. Slate-stone is used for the square pillars supporting the roof and for the chancel arch. The font is of slate, and so is the sundial outside on the South wall.

The Magistrates' Court, decorated with the lion and unicorn crest, is near the church. Bethel Methodist Chapel, near at hand, is well proportioned. The church, court, school, and chapel form a pleasant enclave off the main street.

The miniature Public Hall and Library is a Victorian fantasy, complete with clock. Perhaps none of the buildings of Newcastle Emlyn are very distinguished individually, with the exception of a well-built bank in the main street and the old hotel near the bridge. But the general effect is attractive, especially when the town is busy on market day.

The road that runs South from Newcastle Emlyn direct to Cynwyl Elfed passes through unfrequented country and rises to over 1,000 ft on Moelfre. To the West of this high point, narrow lanes twist down to the few houses of Cwm Morgan in the wooded valley of Cwm-cych. This is a countryside of small farms on high, hard ground.

Nearby towns: Cardigan, Carmarthen, Lampeter, Llandysul, Llanybydder, St Clears

Nearby villages: Abernant, Aberporth, Bangor Teifi, Betws Ifan, Blaenporth, Boncath, Capel Cynon, Capel Iwan, Cenarth, Cilgerran, Cilrhedyn, Cwm-Cou, Cwmorgan, Cwmpengraig, Drefach-Felindre, Hawen, Henllan, Hermon, Llandygwydd, Llanfyrnach, Llangeler, Llangoedmor, Llanpumsaint, Llechryd, Moylgrove, Newchapel, Penboyr, Penbryn, Penrherber, Pentre Cwrt, Pont Tyweli, Ponthirwaun, Prengwyn, Rhoshill, Rhydlewis, Sarnau, St Dogmaels, Talgarreg, Tregroes, Trelech, Tremain, Troedyraur, West Cilrhedyn, Y Ferwig

Have you decided to visit Newcastle Emlyn or the surrounding villages? Please look above for somewhere to stay in:

• a Newcastle Emlyn bed and breakfast (a Newcastle Emlyn B&B or Newcastle Emlyn b and b)
• a Newcastle Emlyn guesthouse
• a Newcastle Emlyn hotel (or motel)
• a Newcastle Emlyn self-catering establishment, or
• other Newcastle Emlyn accommodation