On the north side of the village, the long ridge of Pen y Clipau runs down from the summit of Foel Dinas.

During the Victorian era, three major estates dominated the village and its surrounding area.

To the north lay Sir Edmund Buckley's Dinas Mawddwy estate; to the south and east was Dolcorsllwyn Hall, owned by Sir Thomas Frost.

To the west lay Plas Cwmllecoediog, owned by James Walton and his sons William and Frederick.

Royal Mail announced the closure of Aberangell post office in October 2008.