Castles & Crafts: A day around Llandeilo
Morning: Talley Abbey
19 minute drive from Hill View
Drive to Llandeilo via Talley Abbey (19 mins), the ruins of a never fully completed Abbey in a beautiful secluded valley. The ruins are impressive if small in scale, and the well kept site is perfect for a picnic. There is also a sweet honesty cafe and toilets run by the local church next door (make sure you have some change on you if you want anything).
There is a picturesque white church adjacent to the site and a small walk round to lakes that were historically used for fishing for the monks. Longer walks are available up the wooded hill from the Abbey itself.
Lunch: Llandeilo
20 minute drive from Talley Abbey
From the abbey you keep driving to follow signs to Llandeilo (20 mins from Talley Abbey) and park up in the main car park there. You'll find the little town has plenty of cafes and restaurants to choose from including Pitchfork and Provision with its deli and Diod with its coffee and wine. There is also the chance to try Welsh siocled (chocolate) in the excellent Heavenly Chocolate Emporium. The pretty town has plenty to see with its position just above the Tywi river valley and its painted terraces of homes. There are plenty of galleries to browse and craft shops galore so you’ll find plenty to occupy your time and wallet here.
Afternoon: Dinefwr Park
Walk or short drive from Llandelio
After lunch or a snack then head just outside the town to the National Trust Dinefwr Park (20 mins from Talley Abbey) where you will find the ruins of Dinefwr Castle, its associated deer park and Newton House, a 17th Century Manor house.
You can walk from the nearby town of Llandeilo but it’s best to head to the National Trust car park (free to members) where you can stroll through the beautiful woodlands up the winding path to the castle ruins itself.
The castle has great views from its commanding hilltop position above the Tywi Valley. The ruins still have many parts intact and they have done a great job to allow you to walk up, round and over many parts of it from narrow gangways to spiral staircases. Each section of the castle opens up views that flow into the distance and offers views back across the estate to Newton house itself.
If you love a walk round a well preserved property then Newton house doesn’t disappoint and has a variety of interesting events happening throughout the year including meeting the mystical Mari Lwyd over the twelve nights of Christmas.
Afternoon Alternative: Carreg Cennen Castle
10 minute drive from Llandeilo
Alternatively if you want a more rugged and rural castle experience then head a little further out of Llandeilo to Carreg Cennen Castell (10 mins from Llandeilo).
This Castell (castle) is sited on a high rocky outcrop overlooking the River Cennen, close to the village of Trap, near to Llandeilo.
Perched on a great limestone crag nearly 90 meters above the River Cennen, the dramatic silhouette of Carreg Cennen dominates the skyline for miles around and commands stunning views over the Carmarthenshire countryside.
As you climb up the path from the visitor centre the Castle starts to loom into view and slowly reveals itself. From the approach it’s hard to see how precipitously the castle sits on its far side so it is worth exploring around its base before entering the castle proper to best appreciate how hard it must have been to lay siege to it.
The ruins are great to explore with plenty of information of how it has changed across the years and what may or may not have been original. One of the highlights here is a trip down to the caves where you weave your way down narrow stairs and ever darkening corridors before you need a torch (be prepared with a head torch if possible) to explore the cave proper. Well worth it but this is not for the claustrophobic and the unsure of foot and it ends after what feels like forever (probably a few minutes) in a dead end with a small natural ‘bowl’ chamber. Best avoided when it’s busy as it’s single file and very cramped.
The views from the castle are splendid and on a good day you can see for miles out across the valleys, farmlands and the Bannau Brycheiniog (Brecon beacons). There is a a good circular walk that is clearly marked around the castle that you can do as well to extend your stay and the grounds are well suited to a picnic
It is open 9.30 - 4.30 every day, and has an entrance fee, paid in the shop/cafe. Dogs on short leashes are allowed but discouraged from climbing up structures and going into the caves.
Dinner: Black Lion Hotel
23 minute drive from Dinefwr or 32 minute drive from Castell Carreg Cennen
Head home via the Black Lion Hotel in Llansawel for an evening meal in a cosy traditional pub setting.