Llandovery

Llandovery (Welsh: Llanymddyfri) is an historic market town in Carmarthenshire, on the edge of the Black Mountain, and on the border between Mid Wales and South Wales.

Llandovery

Get in

By car

• From Swansea, M4 to end, A483 and then A40 through Llandeilo to Llandovery. Otherwise head west on the A40 from Abergavenny through Brecon to get there from the east

By bus

• Direct buses from Carmarthen, Builth Wells, Brecon and Lampeter.

By train

• Llandovery is located on the famous Heart of Wales Line. Trains depart Swansea at 4:36AM, 9:15AM, 1:17PM and 6:21PM, and depart Llandovery for Swansea at 7:48AM, 11:33AM, 4:32PM, 8:37PM. The journey takes around 1 hour 20 minutes.

Get around

The town is small enough to explore easily on foot.

See

• 1 Llandovery Castle. The castle ruins are not substantial, but are worth a visit as they are near the centre of the town.  
• 2 Llyn Brianne, Rhandirmwyn (12 miles north of the town). A beautiful man-made lake and dam.  
• 3 Dolaucothi Gold Mines (in the valley of the River Cothi, near Pumsaint about 10 miles west of Llandovery), ☏ +44 1558 650177. The National Trust organises tours of the mines  
• 4 Myddfai Visitor Centre and Community Hall, Myddfai, ☏ +44 1550 720449. 

Do

• Llandovery Theatre. Performances by the charity-run theatre. 
• 1 Crychan Forest. Trails for walkers, cyclist, horse riders and carriage drivers. car parking at Esgair Fwyog and a number of other forestry sites 
• Llandovery serves as an excellent base for hiking in the Brecon Beacons.
• Rugby Union: Llandovery RFC play in the Welsh Premiership, the amateur game's top tier. They play at Church Bank southwest edge of town.
• Llandovery's annual Sheep Festival: September. Wool crafts, artisan food, Sheep Dog trials, craft courses, live music, dog show, bucking sheep challenge, model railway exhibition, sheep shearing demo, rare breed sheep. (date needs updating)

Buy

• 1 Dinefwr Craft Centre, The Old Market Hall (in the centre of town). It has a few shops specialising in good quality handicrafts from Wales and places further afield, such as India and Nepal. 

Eat

• The cafe in the old market hall in the centre of town serves wholesome and delicious meals.
• 1 The Castle Hotel restaurant, Kings Road, ☏ +44 1550 720343. 7:30AM-9:30PM. The Castle Hotel is run and owned by a group of restaurateurs rather than hoteliers so it's no surprise that food lies at the heart of the house – the family farm provides 90% of the natural tasting, free range meat and poultry used in the kitchens, supplemented by a loyal and brilliant network of hard-working and passionate local suppliers. 

Drink

• Good coffee and selection of teas at the cafe in the old market hall.
• 1 The Blue Bell, 19 High Street, ☏ +44 1550 721797. Lovely atmosphere and incredible food. 

Sleep

Camping & Caravaning

• 1 Erwlon Caravan & Camping Park, Brecon Rd., ☏ +44 1550 721021, peter@erwlon.fsnet.co.uk. A family-run park in easy walking distance of Llandovery, excellent facilities. £4-14.50. 

Mid-range

• 2 The Castle Hotel, King's Street, ☏ +44 1550 720343, info@castle-hotel-llandovery.co.uk. A lovely old hotel in the heart of the town. From £65. 

Splurge

• 3 The New White Lion, 43 Stone Street, ☏ +44 1550 720685, info@newwhitelion.co.uk. A six-room hotel in mid-19th century grade II-listed building 

Self-catering

• 4 Bwlch Tre Banau Estate, Porthyrhyd, Llanwrda, ☏ +44 1558 650399, info@walesholidaycottages.com. Three cottages with new interiors and views towards the Brecon Beacons. Ducks, dogs, geese and plenty of room to roam for the kids. From £395 p/w based on four sharing. 

Go next

The following places are all within an hour's drive of the town:

• Carmarthen and Brecon - larger market towns.
• Carreg Cennen Castle - spectacular castle ruins offering views over the Cennen valley towards the brooding Black Mountain near Llandeilo
• The National Botanic Garden of Wales, Middleton near Carmarthen.
• Swansea - beaches, museums/galleries and shopping.
• Trap - a picturesque riverside village (near Carreg Cennen Castle).

Routes through Llandovery

Carmarthen ← Llandeilo ←

W  E

→ Trecastle → Brecon