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Walking in Carmarthenshire

By Jim Rubery

ISBN

9781852847371

Availability

Published

1 Oct 2015

Edition

First

Pages

176

Size

17.20 x 11.60 x 1.10cm

Weight

200g

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Guidebook to 30 walking routes (2 to 10 miles) in Carmarthenshire, south Wales, including sections of Carmarthenshire Coast Path. Walks for all abilities, including coastal, river, forest and hill walks in Cambrian Mountains, Tywi Valley, Y Mynydd Du (Black Mountains) and Brecon Beacons. Easy access from Bristol, Cardiff and Swansea.

Seasons

The walks can be done at any time of year, but the drier months from April to October would suit the higher mountain walks.

Centres

Most of the walks can be reached, either by car or public transport, from Carmarthen, Llandeilo, Llanelli and Llandovery

Difficulty

The walks are organised by level of difficulty, based on length, amount of ascent and the type of terrain they cover. Some are quite short with little effort required, others require considerably more time and can be quite challenging, as they head out into open country where knowledge of map and compass use is highly recommended.

Must See

With mile upon mile of golden sands, breathtaking mountain scenery, fast-flowing rivers, quiet upland lakes, attractive market towns, extensive tracts of forest, evocative castle ruins, empty country lanes and a rich industrial heritage, it is not surprising that Carmarthenshire is fast becoming a walking hotspot.

ISBN

9781852847371

Availability

Published

1 Oct 2015

Edition

First

Pages

176

Size

17.20 x 11.60 x 1.10cm

Weight

200g

Overview

Guidebook of 30 day walks in Carmarthenshire, south west Wales. Ranging from 2 to 10 miles in length and suitable for walkers of all abilities, the routes introduce the varied walking on offer in this county, including parts of the Brecon Beacons and the Cambrian Mountains. Most are circular, but four are linear walks along sections of the Carmarthenshire Coast Path.

Many of the walks can be reached, either by car or public transport, from Carmarthen, Llandeilo, Llanelli and Llandovery. Alongside detailed route descriptions and clear OS mapping, the book is packed with interesting information about the places and heritage encountered. Notes on landscape, geology and wildlife of the area are included, and for each walk there is useful practical information on transport and refreshments.

A county of contrasts with around 1850 miles of footpaths, Carmarthenshire is a walker's paradise. Highlights include the Black Mountains (Mynydd Du), the Teifi Valley, Camarthen Bay, the southwestern Coast, and 'Dylan Thomas Country' around Laugharne.

Table of Contents

CONTENTS

Map key

Overview map

Introduction

Landscape and geology

History

Nature reserves and wildlife habitats

Transport

Staying in Carmarthenshire

What to take

Maps and waymarking

Using this guide

In and around the Teifi Valley

Walk 1 Bronwydd and the Gwili Valley

Walk 2 Cenarth and Newcastle Emlyn

Walk 3 Drefach Felindre and the Woollen Trail

Walk 4 Llandysul and the Afon Tyweli

Castles, gardens and forests

Walk 5 Brechfa Forest West

Walk 6 National Botanic Garden and Paxton’s Tower

Walk 7 Dryslwyn, Aberglasney and Golden Grove

Walk 8 Llandeilo and Dinefwr Park

The Cambrians of Carmarthenshire

Walk 9 Dolaucothi

Walk 10 Cil-y-cwm

Walk 11 Cynghordy

Walk 12 Llandovery

The high mountains of Y Mynydd Du

Walk 13 Mynydd Myddfai

Walk 14 Usk Reservoir

Walk 15 Carn Goch and the Afon Sawdde

Walk 16 Carreg Cennen Castle

Walk 17 Carmarthen Fan

Walk 18 Foel Fraith and Garreg Lwyd

History and heritage

Walk 19 Loughor Bridge to Llanelli North Dock

Walk 20 Llanelli North Dock to Burry Port Harbour

Walk 21 Cwm Lliedi Reservoir and Parc Howard

Walk 22 Burry Port Harbour to Kidwelly

Walk 23 Kidwelly and the Gwendraeth Valley

Dylan Thomas country

Walk 24 Llansteffan Castle

Walk 25 Llansteffan and Wharley Point

Walk 26 Laugharne North

Walk 27 Laugharne South

Walk 28 Pendine to Amroth

Walk 29 Meidrim

Walk 30 Llanboidy

Appendix A Walk summary table

Appendix B Useful contacts

Maps

Maps and waymarking

The walks in this book are covered by seven 1:25,000 Ordinance Survey maps:

Outdoor Leisure 12 (Brecon Beacons National Park. Western area) Explorer 164 (Gower) Explorer 177 (Carmarthen & Kidwelly) Explorer 178 (Llanelli & Ammanford) Explorer 185 (Newcastle Emlyn) Explorer 186 (Llandeilo & Brechfa Forest) Explorer 187 (Llandovery)

Waymarking is generally very good to excellent, apart from on some of the exposed ridges, moors and mountains, where a map and compass may be necessary; GPS signals are fine in most areas. The furniture on most of the walks is good, with sound stiles and many new pedestrian and kissing gates. Many of the walks pass through woodland where fallen trees may present an obstacle. Where such obstacles were found, mention is made in the text and, if necessary, an alternative route given.

‘Carmarthenshire Footpaths’ sign

Updates

February 2020

Walk 7

Teashop next to church in Golden Grove (Gelli Aur), open Thurs and Sat 1.30 - 5.00pm. Dog friendly.

September 2016

Corrections

September 2016

Walk 10, Cil-y-cwm.
Page 73.
The opening paragraph of the description should now read:
‘From St Michael’s Church, which is well worth visiting either before or after the walk, cross the main road through the village, walk along a surfaced alleyway opposite, that runs between cottages and past the chapel, to reach an iron field gate on the right. Walk along the short right edge of the field to a second gate and once through turn left, traversing the bottom of the next three fields to a stile. Once over bear diagonally right through a fourth field, heading towards the summit of Pen Lifau, directly ahead, to eventually negotiate a stile and footbridge in the far right-hand corner. Now join an old boardwalk . . . . . . ‘

Also, on page 77, in the last but one line of the penultimate paragraph of walking text, the ‘footbridge’ mentioned is now a broad concrete bridge over the river.

Reviews

This guide lives up to the high standards we have come to expect from Cicerone, with useful notes on nature, transport and accommodation. Walking in Carmarthenshire is an informative guide to thirty interesting mountain, valley and coastline day-walks in this region that could well attract walkers who have not yet considered South Wales. The walks described are of various lengths and all grades. They include some interesting walks in the Brecon Beacons, the Black Mountains and the Cambrian Mountains. With 1,850 miles (2,977km) of footpaths, there is certainly plenty to attract all grades of walkers to Carmarthenshire.

Peter O'Neill, Literary Editor, Irish Mountain Log, Winter 2015

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Jim Rubery

Jim Rubery is a very keen participant in outdoor pursuits, having spent his spare time over the years climbing, mountaineering, walking, skiing, canoeing and even dabbling with caving and sailing. Jim has a regular walking column, 'Rambling with Rubery', in Yorkshire Life, Cheshire Life and Lancashire Life magazines. It is from his researches that his love of historical places has grown.

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