Llanon Ceredigion Wales : Tourist Information
Llanon (Llan-non) is a village stooped in history with a shingle beach located on the coast of Cardigan Bay, 11 miles south of Aberystwyth and 5 miles north of Aberaeron on the main A487 coast road.
It is part of the parish of Llansantffraed, which consists of three communities – Llanon, Llansantffraed and Nebo.
The village is named after the church of St. Non – the mother of St David, patron saint of Wales, who was born about 500 AD and brought up in the village.
The history of the village dates back to a charter of around 1215 that shows the Lord Rhys ap Gruffudd gave the land to the Bishop of St David’s. The land subsequently passed to the Cistercian monks of Strata Florida and the shoreline still features their mediaeval fish traps near Llanon.
The village was at its height in the 18th and 19th centuries as a key area for farming and shipbuilding. As a shipbuilding village, it employed 130 men in 1861 out of a population of 1300. It was during this time that much of the development in the village took place when new churches, a school, shops, pubs, a brewery and a bakery were built.
Today Llanon attracts many tourists visiting Ceredigion, including walkers of the Ceredigion Coastal Path, followers of the Dylan Thomas Trail and caravaneers. It holds an annual carnival and offers local amenities including a Village Hall, Llanon Primary School, White Swan Inn, Llanon Premier Stores, Sion Jones Butchers, Rockin Robin Records & Tea Room (The Old Bakery) and Woodlands Caravan Park.
Places Of Interest
St Ffraid, The Church Of St Bridget, Llansantffraed
A church has been on this site since the 12th century, as Roger de Clare granted the church to the Knights Hospitaller of Slebech in 1158. The church is dedicated to St Fraid (Bridget or Bride in English)
There have been many church buildings on the site and the current Anglican church dates back to 1839, built by David Francis, except the tower. The West Tower is 16th century and featured what may be a Sheila-na-gig although originally it was believed to be a carving of St. Non holding her baby St. David.
Buildings remains on the cliff above are also associated with the church. It is suspected to be the remains of a great building that may have belonged to a nunnery.
The Capel Mawr Methodist Chapel
The Capel Mawr Methodist Chapel (Calvinistic Methodist Chapel) built in 1792 by John Alban still holds regularly services. It has been rebuilt many times (1797,1804, 1815, 1844) and the the present chapel was built in 1865.
Siloh (Seilo) Welsh Independent Chapel
Seilo Independent Chapel was built in 1864, in the Sub-Classical style of the gable entry type, by architect Thomas Thomas of Landore.
Llanon Cottage Museum
Adjoining the ruin is one of the last surviving cottages in West Wales. It is a 2 roomed cottage dating back to the 18th century; the thatched roof is now covered by corrugated iron.
Y Neuadd (The Hall)
Just off Bridge Street in Hoel Non is a Tudor Ruin called a Y Neuadd (Hall). This is believed to date back to the 14th century and would have been home to a wealthy family. It first appears in historical records in 1645 and was last occupied in the 1880’s. It was excavated in 2013 and is now viewable anytime.
Past & Present
Plas Morfa & Felinfor Brewery / Aberclydan Brewery
At the end of Hoel-Y-Mor is the Plas Morfa. The property has much history being built on the site of the former Felinfor Brewery operated by local shipbuilder Evan Morris. The brewery was taken over by David Morgan in 1837 when much of the original building was demolished and it was renamed the Aberclydan Brewery. In 1879 it was brought by Messrs Davies & Jones of Llandover, who alas went bankrupt in 1886. It then became Aberclydan Stores managed by David Morgan’s son Evan until 1913. It later became the site of the Penarwel Club and Caravan site. On the closure of the caravan site, it became the Plas Morfa Hotel, it now offers self-catering accommodation.
The White Swan Inn
The White Swan Inn Llanon in Stryd-yr-Ysgol, off Bridge Street, was formally known as the Commercial and was first listed in 1861 with inn keeper as Jane Thomas. This family friendly pub has recently been renovated and offers good food, sunday lunches and range of quality ales.
The Central Hotel
The Central Hotel on Bridge Street opened around 1906 and was built on the original site of the Sun Inn, a thatched cottage. The first licensee of the Sun Inn was listed as Jenkin Davies in 1836. The Dylan Thomas Trail starts here and it is where Thomas drank with his friend Aberaeron vet Tommy Herbert. The Central is currently closed.
Other pubs long since closed included The Castle Inn, Glancledan, Green Castle, New Ceylon, Plas Gwyn, The Plough, Ship Inn and The Swan Inn. Find out more on the History of Welsh Pubs.
Llanon Beach
Llanon Beach car park is located at the end of Heol Y Mor adjacent to the Plas Morfa Hotel and the Afon Cledan river. The beach can also be accessed from a number steps that come down from the village near the cricket field. It is a dog friendly beach mainly shingle but with patches of sand and when the ride is out there are plenty of rock pools to investigate. This is an ideal start point for the Ceredigion Coastal Path heading south towards Aberaeron and Newquay. As you head out towards Aberath, when the tide is out, you can see the remains of ancient fishing pools that were created by the monks of Strata Florida Abbey.
Ceredigion Coastal Path
Llanon is a virtual midpoint of the Ceredigion Coastal Path walk that runs from Ynys Las to Cardigan. It is a beautiful walk covering all the towns and villages on its route and may be walked in easy sections. From Llanon the walk into Aberaeron has some lovely views over the sea, and going to Llanrhystud you will encounter the Lime Kilns on a more inland walk. Llanon Ceridigion Coastal Path Route
Llanon Business Directory
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Llanon Information Websites