WITH MORE than 20 rivers winding through the county of Carmarthenshire, it makes total sense to utilize them during this year of adventure. It even homes parts of Wales’ longest rivers which are the Tywi and the Teifi.
Choose from challenging water sports, explore quaint market towns or just relax beside the riverside and take in the scenery, there’s something for everyone.
Active adventures
Get active in Wales’ longest river, the Teifi. Go paddling, river swimming, rafting, kayaking, the list goes on! You’re sure to find something suited to you, but always remeber to be safe and use a trusted organiser.
Fancy channelling your inner Indiana Jones? Just go for it!
Walking and wildlife
Rivers mean lush valleys and interesting wildlife, so pack your binoculars and lace up your walking boots to discover Carmarthenshire’s unique landscape on foot. For an easy ramble, opt for the Dinefwr Park wildlife walk, which combines 12th century castle ruins with heronspotting on the Twyi. The Cennen Arms pub is the starting point for two walks – one easy, one more challenging – that see you cross rivers, spot red kites and marvel at majestic Carreg Cennen. Or learn the legend of Twm Siôn Cati – also known as the ‘Welsh Robin Hood’ – whose footsteps you can follow on an invigorating three mile walk along the River Twyi and up into the steep caves where he lived. Red kites circle above you and, in summer, the woodlands are a carpet of beautiful bluebells.
The WWT Llanelli Wetland Centre lies just off the Loughor estuary and its saline lagoons receive saltwater from the river at high tide; this combines with freshwater to create a unique – and threatened – habitat supporting fascinating wildlife. Visit in the winter to spot up to 50,000 migratory birds, who use the lagoons as a roosting area or stopover spot on their way further south. If you visit the Wetland Centre in February, you can participate in the first ever WWT Welsh Puddle Jumping Championship! And in the summer, kids can get up close to nature on a canoe safari.
Riverside road trips
Discover Carmarthenshire’s riverside market towns and iconic monuments on two wheels – this part of the world is blessed with some extremely scenic driving routes. The Twyi runs beneath the chic town of Llandeilo and the oldest town in Wales, Carmarthen, while you can follow the river Gwendraeth on foot to the atmospheric Kidwelly Castle. The Taf runs beneath the famed Welsh poet Dylan Thomas’ Writing Shed in the town of Laugharne; you can peer into the studio which looks just as though the writer had stepped out for a walk. Newcastle Emlyn, which was built on the site of a Welsh fortress, sits on a loop in the River Teifi – explore historic inns in the town then follow the river west to beautiful Cenarth Falls; in the early autumn, gather with other nature enthusiasts to catch a glimpse of the salmon leap; the fish seem to defy gravity as they jump up and over the rapids on their way upstream.
Casting off
The rivers of Carmarthenshire, in particular the Teifi and Twyi, attract fishermen from near and far in the spring and summer months, all with their eyes on one particular prize: sewin, better known as sea trout. As well as sewin, the salmon runs in early May and late summer see avid anglers take to the water. While in picturesque Cenarth Falls, pop into the National Coracle Centre to explore the tradition of coracle fishing by night, a practice that’s still alive in the county today. Plenty of places in Carmarthenshire offer the chance to have a go at fishing for yourself: award-winning pub The Dolaucothi Arms’ garden has four miles of fishing rights for salmon and sea trout, so you can combine a tasty meal with an afternoon’s angling, with fantastic riverside walks and bridle paths for the non-fishers.
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