We have wonderfully dark skies here – around the cottages on a clear night it is stunning. And we also have lots of Dark Sky Discovery sites within easy reach of the cottages around the Cambrian Mountains and Cardigan Bay if you want to experience truly epic stargazing. 🤩
Leigh has become pretty good at Astro Photography, capturing pictures around the cottages and our meadows.
Red Kite Cottage Starlapse image.
The Milky Way taken in Picnic Meadow.
Another shot of the Milky Way from the cottages’ Picnic Meadow. The best seasons for stargazing are Spring, Autumn & Winter.
Venturing further afield, Leigh went on a night time expedition up Drygarn Fawr in the Cambrian Mountains near Tregaron for even darker skies.
Dark Sky Discovery Sites
There are plenty of great designated Dark Sky Discovery sites within easy reach of the cottages. From the map above the three easiest to get to are:
Our romantic holiday cottages are located in the foothills of the Cambrian Mountains Area of Astounding Natural Beauty. You can even see the highest mountain – Pumlumon Fawr – in the distance from our meadows.
The natural beauty of the plateaux, valleys and gorges of the Cambrian Mountains is equal to and often greater than some British national parks. Although distributed among three counties – Powys, Ceredigion & Carmarthenshire – the Cambrian Mountains are geographically one area, and form the main watershed of Wales.
The rivers Severn, Wye, Elan, Irfon, Tywi, Cothi, Teifi, Ystwyth, Rheidol, and Twymyn all have their sources here. There are only a few roads across the mountains and they are acknowledged as some of the most scenic routes in Britain.
Hafod EstateAbergwesyn Pass
The walker is king in the Cambrian Mountains and you can find many routes online, such as the ones on Walking Britain. The landscape is vast, but not featureless. There are plenty of lakes and reservoirs that will make you feel like you could be in Canada!
Llyn Clywedog
Interesting features like Strata Florida, The Teifi Pools, Vale of Rheidol Railway and Devil’s Bridge mean that you can easily spend a week or more exploring the area.
Strata FloridaClaerddu Waterfall, Teifi PoolsVale of Rheidol RailwayDevil’s Bridge
There are also amazing wildlife habitats like Cors Caron Nature Reserve which has great walking trails and is recognised internationally as an important wetland reserve.
Cors Caron
And no visit to the Cambrian Mountain is complete without stopping off at the most remote phone box in the UK! You can even post letters from the post box there (we have seen the postie collecting mail from it). 😂 To find it, the What3words is ///campsites.guarding.brain
The Cambrian Mountains are such a special place and still relatively unknown. They are unspoilt and always quiet and peaceful – sometimes you will hardly see another soul all day! Don’t miss out on exploring this astoundingly beautiful area if you stay with us.
Visiting Dinefwr National Trust – a historic estate located in Carmarthenshire. Dinefwr is known for its grand mansion, extensive parkland, and rich history dating back many centuries. The estate encompasses Dinefwr Castle, Newton House, and a large area of parkland that has been designated as a National Nature Reserve. It is about a 40 minute scenic drive from Red Kite & Woodpecker Cottages. There is a large car park which is free to NT members or £5 for a full day for non-members. The easiest way to find it is with What3Words : Compelled : Trailer : Park
Newton House
A Georgian mansion that was built within the estate during the 17th century. It served as the home of the Rhys family, who were descendants of the Lord Rhys. The mansion is a prime example of Georgian architecture and is surrounded by beautiful gardens. It is open to the public and offers visitors a glimpse into the estate’s history. Entry to the house is currently £9 per adult for non NT members.
There is so much to do at Dinefwr. You can explore the castle ruins, tour Newton House, enjoy walks through the parkland, and appreciate the stunning views of the surrounding countryside. The estate offers a combination of history, architecture and nature.
Dinefwr Castle
A medieval fortress that sits on top of a hill overlooking the River Tywi. It has a strategic location that allowed its occupants to control and monitor the surrounding landscape. The castle has a long history, with its origins dating back to the early 12th century. Over the years, it was the seat of the Lord Rhys, a powerful Welsh prince, and played a significant role in Welsh history during periods of conflict with the English. You can visit the castle for free and the views over the Tywi Valley are stunning.
Parkland and Nature Reserve
The parkland surrounding Dinefwr is known for its natural beauty and diverse wildlife. The estate’s landscape includes woodlands, meadows, and the picturesque Dinefwr Deer Park. The park is home to a herd of fallow deer that roam freely, adding to the scenic charm of the area. The estate’s parkland has been designated as a National Nature Reserve, emphasising its ecological importance.
The walks around the estate are beautiful in all seasons. Late spring is especially lovely when the bluebells are out.
Here’s a handy map showing all the different areas. There are plenty of picnic areas scattered through the estate and also a cafe for refreshments. You can definitely spend a whole day exploring! Find out more on the NT website: National Trust Dinefwr
We took a drive out to Coed Y Foel Woodland Nature Reserve a couple of days ago for a walk (about 25 minutes from the cottages). It’s a really beautiful woodland and is a mixture of established broadleaf forest with a more open “nursery woodland”.
There is a small car park with a few more spaces out on the quiet road.
The older part of the forest is mostly oak and the newly planted part is a mix of hazel, alder and other native species.
There is a pretty steam running through the valley – Ziggy enjoys a cooling dip there.
It’s a moderately challenging walk but very peaceful and quiet and there are several circular routes you can take to make it more or less challenging. At this time of year there are lots of bilberries to snack on as you walk too!
There are information boards to show you the trails and the route is way marked (although not clearly in some places).
Just a 20 minute drive from Coedmor Cottages is gorgeous Cae Hir Gardens. They have been an RHS Partner Garden for 18 years and are one of the original Magnificent 6 – the ‘Great Gardens of West Wales’.
Whether you’re a keen gardener, nature enthusiast, or looking for a serene escape, you can easily while away hours exploring. It’s a place where you can immerse yourself in the wonders of nature, discover unusual plants, and find peace in the tranquility of a beautifully crafted garden.
The colours are really stunning in the sunshine. There are some rare and unusual specimens to discover.
As you explore the winding pathways, you’ll be treated to a variety of stunning features and plantings. From vibrant flower beds to manicured lawns, Cae Hir Gardens offers a feast for the senses at every turn.
Working with Nature
The gardens have been designed in a naturalistic style, blending harmoniously with the surrounding landscape. The Wild Garden is one of my favourite parts of the garden. Nature is allowed to flourish. Situated in a beautifully secluded spot at the very bottom of the garden, it runs adjacent to the ‘Bran’ – a delightful, winding stream.
Rounding off your Visit
If you are inspired by the garden’s plants, some of them are available to buy in the on-site nursery. And the best way to round off your visit is to visit “Y Sied” tearoom. Treat yourself to a home-baked scone or cake with a pot of tea or the local Teifi Coffee . 😋 If the weather is warm, you can also try the locally produced Conti’s Ice Cream – made right here in Lampeter. Entry to the nursery and tearoom are free so you can pop in even if not touring the gardens.
Opening Times
The gardens open at 10am and close at 5pm daily through the season which runs from April 1st to October 31st. More information and current prices can be found on their website: Cae Hir Gardens
Cenarth Falls is a picturesque waterfall on the River Teifi located in the village of Cenarth. It is on the border of Pembrokeshire, Ceredigion and Carmarthenshire. The Teifi is one of the longest rivers in Wales. It cascades over a series of rocky steps to create Cenarth Falls. The waterfall is particularly stunning during times of heavy rainfall when the water flow is at its peak.
The village is such a pretty place with a lovely riverside walk and plenty of cafes for a cream tea.
There are boardwalks along the riverside making the walk easy and accessible. There is a circular walk you can do along the river, then up through woodland and back through the village to the car park.
The area is also well-known for fishing, and the River Teifi is abundant with salmon and sea trout.
In addition to its natural beauty, Cenarth is also famous for its history, with a long-standing tradition of coracle fishing. Coracles are small, round boats made of wicker and coated with tar or bitumen. Fishermen have used these unique vessels for centuries to navigate the river and catch fish. The National Coracle Museum by the river is worth a visit.
There is a Car Park at the Falls. Parking is £3 per car for all day parking (9am – 6pm). Cenarth is easily reached in around 30 minutes from Red Kite & Woodpecker Cottages.
We’ve visited Cenarth three times this year and each time has been so different. First time in May there had been so little rain that the falls were small and you could see much of the underlying rock. In September they were perfectly flowing. This week after so much rain they are a force of nature, so powerful! Whenever you visit, Cenarth is very pretty.
Here’s a Reel I made for our Instagram showing the different seasons.
