Carmarthenshire North Accommodation

The Tywi Valley site of Roman settlements

Newcastle Emlyn Teifi Valley Railway Dolaucothi Gold Mines Carmarthenshire

The rural beauty of Carmarthenshire is particularly evident to the north. Pretty villages and bustling market towns are here in the picture postcard Teifi Valley including Llansawel and Llandovery which borders the Brecon Beacons. The unique Roman Gold mines of Dolaucothi are just to the north of Llandovery.

Moving towards the North West of Carmarthenshire sits another bustling market town Newcastle Emlyn, with the delightful Narrow Gauge Teifi Valley Railway situated nearby. As the story goes, the last dragon in Wales was killed here in Newcastle Emlyn - the Heart of the Dragon Festival takes place in Newcastle Emlyn annually every July. It's feisty up here in North Carmarthenshire, they don't like 'steel monstrosity' Tesco up here, and three cheers to that. Organic food and fresh produce is the order of the day, with some lively history and superb festivals, many of which revolve around food.

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Dolaucothi Gold Mines near Llandovery

Just to the north of Llandovery sits the unique Roman Gold mines of Dolauchothi. The site is set within attractive wooded hillsides in the Cothi Valley and is run by the National Trust. (see weblink right)

You can take guided underground tours to explore the workings, plus there's an exhibition on gold - surprise surprise! Dolauchothi doesn't just offer a rare opportunity to explore Roman gold mines, it's also a stunningly beautiful North Carmarthenshire spot, with exquisite views of the Cothi Valley on offer, plus numerous walking trails in the area.

Gold mining was going on here almost 2000 years ago, and the network of gold mining pits, challels, adits and tanks still exist. Mining was also taken up again here in the 19th and 20th century (it peaked in 1938). Recent mining works can also be viewed on the tour. You'll need good stout footwear for the underground tour. A tearoom and baby changing facilities plus toilets are all on-site. Note also the Carreg Pumsaint Standing Stone Megalith situated near Dolaucothi.

Dolaucothi Gold Mines, Pumsaint, Llanwrda, Carmarthenshire SA19 8US. Tel: 01558 650177. (see National Trust Weblink right for more details).

Newcastle Emlyn & The Heart of the Dragon Festival

Newcastle Emlyn - 'you must be baaaarmy not to live here!, says the local town sheep and webguide (linked right). They've a point - it's stunningly rural here, with a bustling market town centre in the heart of the Teifi Valley. This North Carmarthenshire town grew naturally as a crossing point over the River Teifi. Once a Norman stronghold, the castle is today in ruins, but there's plenty of other attractions in and around the town.

The story of the the last dragon in Wales slain here in Newcastle Emlyn has been passed down for centuries. Read the full story on the Newcastle Emlyn town guide. Every year this story and more is celebrated in the two day Heart of the Dragon Festival held in early July. Celebrations include a medieval fayre and a reenactment of the Last Dragon of Wales story. There's a big parade through the town too, consisting of makeshift dragons, stilt walkers and marching bands.

A particularly interesting historic building within the town is the Hydro electric power station built in 1908. The water turbines here are the only working ones of their kind in the UK, and once served to provide electric lighting for the town (an innovative project in it's day, and early example of environmentally friendly hydro electric power (courtesy of the River Teifi). The design was the work of J.R.Parkington who ran an electrical business in Swansea. By 1919, after an initial loss, the scheme had proven itself, and was the only electrical concern in Wales not to have increased it's charges through the First World War.

J R Parkington was soon broadening his ideas, developing a a cinema building in the town showing films off the back of a hydro electric source. It's a fascinating piece of hidden history this, and possible plans are afoot to develop a Museum of Alternative Energy and a Cafe. Roll on that development. The old power station sits near to the Castle. Checkout the Hanes Emlyn Local History Weblink right for more details. (Newcastle Emlyn History Society, Old Library, Market Hall, Market Square Newcastle Emlyn, SA38 9AQ).

Teifi Valley Narrow Gauge Railway

Explore the Teifi Valley by Narrow Gauge Railway - 'pay once and ride all day' if you like. This is as uncommercial and laidback as narrow gauge railways get up here at Henllan, North Carmarthenshire. A joy of a vintage railway, the Teifi Valley Railway relies totally on volunteers, and runs usually on Sundays, Mondays and Tuesdays. Check the website right for the timetable.

Join the journey at the little station at Henllan, which has a station tearoom and gift shop as well as a Railway Charity Shop, toilets, crazy golf and quoits. Picnic tables are also in the surrounding grounds.

The narrow gauge railway journey takes you through the Teifi Valley via Forest halt and Pontprenshitw (you have to request to stop!). The countryside round these parts is stunningly wooded, with a choice of woodland trails. If you stop at Forest Halt a favourite walk is the one to view the waterfalls. Other walks branch out from Llandyfriog.

Teifi Valley Narrow Gauge Railway, Henllan Near Newcastle Emlyn, Carmarthenshire. Tel: 01559 371077. Teifi Valley Railway weblink is to the right with details on how to find it. Tourist Railway Brown signs are clearly posted at junctions around the area, including from Newcastle Emlyn.