West Wales Holiday Itinerary — Day-by-Day Guide from Glaneirw Estate

Whether you're staying in The Coach House, The Courtyard, The Apartment or Tremle, Glaneirw Estate is perfectly placed for a week of contrasting West Wales experiences. This suggested day-by-day itinerary covers the very best of Cardigan Bay and the surrounding coast, hills and towns.

Day 1 — Arrival & the Estate

Arrive from 4pm and settle in. Take a gentle walk around the private 50-acre estate to get your bearings — look out for Dexter cattle, rare breed pigs and red kites soaring overhead. Visit the farm shop for fresh eggs, local produce and anything you need for your first evening meal. A barbecue on the garden terrace is the perfect way to start the holiday.

Day 2 — Mwnt & Cardigan

Start the morning at Mwnt Beach (15 min), a secluded National Trust cove with a dramatic headland and some of the clearest water on the Ceredigion coast — bottlenose dolphins are regularly spotted from the clifftop path. Spend the afternoon in Cardigan town: walk across the medieval Teifi bridge, explore the restored Norman castle, and browse the independent food shops around Finch's Square. The covered market runs on Saturdays.

Day 3 — New Quay & Dolphins

Drive north to New Quay (25 min), Wales's dolphin-watching capital. Book a morning boat trip with a licensed wildlife operator — Cardigan Bay's resident population of over 100 bottlenose dolphins makes sightings highly likely between April and September. Back on shore, walk up through the town and out along the coast path towards Bird Rock for views south towards the estate. Lunch at the harbour before heading home.

Day 4 — Aberystwyth

Head north to Aberystwyth (40 min) for a full day out. Take the cliff railway to the camera obscura on Constitution Hill for panoramic views of the bay. Walk the Victorian seafront promenade, browse the National Library of Wales, explore the castle ruins and finish with dinner at one of the town's excellent restaurants. The return drive south through the Teifi Valley in the evening light is one of the great West Wales drives.

Day 5 — Pembrokeshire Coast

Cross into Pembrokeshire for a day on some of Britain's finest beaches. Poppit Sands (25 min) is a wide estuary beach at the start of the Pembrokeshire Coast Path. From there, the coastal path south to Newport Sands passes dramatic cliff scenery. Alternatively, drive on to Newport town for lunch and then head to Cwm yr Eglwys — a tiny ruined church on a sheltered bay — before returning through the Nevern valley. For those wanting a full-day destination, St Davids (1 hr) rewards a longer trip.

Day 6 — Walks, Wildlife & Local Food

A slower day closer to the estate. Walk to Penbryn Beach (10 min by car, or along the coast path) through the wooded valley — it's one of the least-visited beaches in the area, with a National Trust café at the top of the valley. In the afternoon, visit In the Welsh Wind Distillery (15 min) for a tour and tasting of their award-winning Welsh gin. Return via the Teifi Gorge to spot otters, kingfishers and dippers from the riverside path at Cilgerran.

Day 7 — Llangrannog & a Final Beach

The coastal village of Llangrannog (20 min) makes a perfect penultimate stop: park above the village and walk down the steep lane to find a beach café, a handful of holiday cottages, seals on the rocks and the Ceredigion Coast Path heading in both directions along dramatic clifftops. Head back to the estate in the afternoon and make the most of the garden and BBQ for a last evening meal.

Day 8 — Departure

Check-out is by 10am. If time allows before the journey home, stop at the Cardigan farmers' market (held on the last Saturday of each month) or call in to Cardigan castle for a final look at the Teifi river.

Stay at Glaneirw Estate

The Coach House — 5 bedrooms, sleeps 10, games room and private garden
The Courtyard — 5 ensuite bedrooms, sleeps 10, contemporary barn conversion
The Apartment — 1 bedroom, sleeps 4, perfect for couples and small families
Tremle — Victorian villa in Tresaith, 5 bedrooms, sleeps 10, 2 min from the beach