Llangrannog (Welsh pronunciation:[ɬanˈgranɔg]; sometimes spelt as Llangranog) is a village and
community in
Ceredigion, Wales, 6 miles (10 km) southwest of
New Quay. It lies in the narrow valley of the
River Hawen, which falls as a
waterfall near the middle of the village. Llangrannog is on the
Wales Coast Path.
Demographics
Population
According to the
2011 census, Llangrannog's population was 775.[2] This was a 2.6% decrease since the 796 people noted in
2001.[3] It is estimated that Llangrannog's population decreased further to 759 in 2019.[4]
Welsh language
The 2011 census showed 46.5% of the town's population could speak
Welsh, a fall from 51.8% in 2001.[5]
Geography
The large rock between Llangrannog and Cilborth Beaches is Carreg Bica, a stack of
Ordovician rock weathered by the sea, one of many along the coastline. A large piece of Carreg Bica fell away some years ago.
Llangrannog's
beach has received
Blue Flag beach status.[6] An
RNLI lifeguard service is provided. Two streams flow down the beach to the sea - the
Hawen and the smaller Nant Eisteddfa. There is a waterfall on the Hawen, known as Y Gerwn. Located within the community is the tiny island of
Ynys Lochtyn.
Legend
Carreg Bica viewed from the beach
According to
legend, Carreg Bica (trans: Bica's rock)—the large sea-weathered stack of
Ordovician rock on the beach—is the tooth of the
giantBica. He lived in Ceredigion and was forced to spit his tooth onto the beach when suffering a bad toothache.[7]
Notable people
Sarah Jane Rees (1839–1916), was born in Llangrannog and is buried in the church yard. A precocious child, by the age of 15 she had learned navigation from her sea captain father and went on to obtain her Masters Certificate. She taught navigation in a school she founded to help local seamen better themselves. In 1865 she won the crown in the Aberystwyth National Eisteddfod under the bardic name of Cranogwen. She became a popular lay-preacher and eventually gave up school teaching to concentrate on preaching and on establishing the South Wales Women's Temperance Union in 1901 to counter the harm done by alcohol among the working classes.[8]
Edward Elgar (1857–1934), once spent a holiday in Llangrannog.
Christopher Williams RBA (1873–1934), a Welsh artist, visited and painted here. His painting "Holidays - Village Girls at Llangrannog" is in the collection of the
National Library of Wales.
Dylan Thomas (1914–1953), visited Llangrannog whilst he was living in New Quay in 1944–45. He came to the Ship Inn with Tommy Herbert, the
Aberaeron vet, and with
Ira Jones, the World War One fighter ace.[9]
T. Llew Jones (1915 in Pentrecwrt – 2009), a Welsh language author.
J. Geraint Jenkins (1929–2009), a Welsh maritime historian and historian of rural crafts.
Beti George (born 1939 in Coed-y-bryn), a Welsh broadcaster on TV and radio.