# 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.

## 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$^{[deadlink]}$ 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

* 51.992798-3.7965281 Llandovery Castle. The castle ruins are not substantial, but are worth a visit as they are near the centre of the town.
* 52.133139-3.751322 Llyn Brianne, Rhandirmwyn (12 miles north of the town). A beautiful man-made lake and dam.
* 52.045111-3.9516423 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
* 51.955745-3.788854 Myddfai Visitor Centre and Community Hall, Myddfai, ☏ +44 1550 720449.

## Do

* Llandovery Theatre. Performances by the charity-run theatre.
* 52.056938-3.6976631 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

* 51.994063-3.7958681 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.
* 51.993406-3.7969771 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.
* 51.994181-3.7944561 The Blue Bell, 19 High Street, ☏ +44 1550 721797. Lovely atmosphere and incredible food.

## Sleep
### Camping & Caravaning

* 51.993591-3.7809221 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

* 51.993613-3.7971332 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

* 51.995727-3.7966853 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

* 52.017037-3.8639744 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).