Keeping it local: Llanybydder & Lampeter
If you want a quieter day whilst with us at Hill View Holidays then the immediate vicinity has plenty to keep you occupied. Please do be aware that in rural communities Sundays and Mondays are often when businesses are closed so do check before planning a trip out.
Llanybydder
3 minute drive from Hill View / 25 minute walk
Llanybydder which is just down the road, is a little market town made famous by its regular markets or ‘Marts’ and especially its horse mart which brings people from across the UK. You can walk into the village down the road as long as you are careful with the traffic - most people here do expect people walking on roads at times and they’ll normally give you a wide berth (do take a torch at night mind, if you’re staggering back from the pub!).
For a small town it still has stuff to offer if you know where to look, with two excellent pubs and a couple of takeaways. The Gwesty Cross Hands Hotel does great homely food and has a Sunday Carvery (make sure you book to avoid disappointment). If you're after a pint in a traditional pub then pop into the friendly Tanygraig Inn, also a good place to watch sport if you’re into that kind of thing. Bara Gwalia, the local bakery, is a lovely place to pick up a snack or get stuff for a picnic and the local takeaways of Romino’s Cafe (pizzas and kebabs) and New China Wok are both worth a look at if you can’t be bothered to cook on holiday (as usual check their opening times online as it can change seasonally).
Need a pint of milk or emergency chocolate bar? You'll also find a Londis in Llanybydder.
Lampeter
14 minute drive from Hill View
Lampeter, at 15 mins away is our closest "big" town and has pretty much most things you might need if you’re only ‘popping out’. This market and university town seems to have more cafes per head than your average Parisian boulevard. The Mustard seed cafe has an unpretentious feel and has good food and cake at reasonable prices The Town Hall Cafe Deli has great local produce and gifts and this light and airy space is a very comfortable place to have a light lunch and a good cup of coffee. Conti’s Cafe does a mean Welsh Rarebit, has excellent coffee and is even an ice cream parlour. If you are vegan or gluten free then check out the Mulberry Tree for its wholefood shop and cafe upstairs. Finally if you;re looking for a chintzy location for afternoon tea then head for Granny’s Kitchen and have their Cawl or a tasty sandwich.
For a more substantial meal in the evening you could head to the Black Lion Hotel who have a varied themed menu across the weeks as well as more traditional pub grub. The Shapla Tandoori is also worth a shout for a good local curry.
If you’re interested in local crafts then you might want to pop into the Welsh Quilt Centre to find out about their history and how they're made, you might even buy one to take home (https://www.welshquilts.com/).
If you're staying with us for a while then Lampeter has both a Co-op and Sainsburys.
Local walks
There are a couple of good local walks though most do involve a quick hop in the car. The closest walk that doesn’t need the car is the local boundary walk Llanybydder Boundary Walk which has various route options and gives you a chance to get to know this little town.
For splendid wide ranging views you could go up the ‘mountain’ or ‘mynydd’’ which is really only a big hill but it is the highest point around. The views on a clear day can be splendid, even when misty with the wind turbines in the distance rearing through the clouds. It’s easy to roam around up here, have a picnic and even watch the sun rise/set. This is also designated as a dark sky area so the night sky can be pretty impressive. It’s hard to find on Google maps so do ask to borrow an OS map if you’re going that way. Depending on what time of the day you could drive back via Norwood Garden and Tea Room.
This garden was originally designed and built in 2003 and is now owned by a lovely couple who run the tea room and continue to create and manage the gardens here. It's a good small garden to visit in spring and summer with a range of different garden ‘rooms’ and plantings that should engage your average horticulturist.
A favourite circular walk of ours is driving down the road and up into the forest to a place called Sifigwm (you can find this on Google maps). There are a range of walking routes and Mountain bike paths here but thes best is the simple circular route that has plenty of varied scenery and at 5k is about right for a stretch of the legs.