Coast & Countryside

Llanelli Festival of Walks

Every Spring, ramblers from across Europe head for Carmarthenshire as the county plays host to a popular festival celebrating the great outdoors.

The Llanelli Festival of Walks is thought to be the oldest event of its kind in Wales and draws in the crowds for a three-day extravaganza of walks which range from a gentle stroll to a more gruelling challenge.

Festival chairman, Alwyn Williams, says the event is attracting more and more visitors to Carmarthenshire every year. “This festival has opened people’s eyes to what we have to offer here and really helped to put Carmarthenshire on the map as an excellent walking destination.”

Some of the 2011 Walks...

Family Rambles:
One each day, these are gentle-paced and big of fun. Meet at the Selwyn Samuel Centre / Leisure Centre Car Park, Park Crescent, Llanelli for all walks.

Walk 6: Pembrey Country Park / Pembrey Forest (4 miles), Saturday 28 May, 10am - a magical start to any weekend the kids will love wandering through Pembrey Country Park and Forest. This walk combines the feeling of Harry Potter’s Forbidden Forest with leaping down dunes on to a sandy beach. If the tide permits there’s time for paddling too. The little ‘uns won’t even notice the four miles covered!

Walk 12: Gelli Aur Country Park (4 miles), Sunday 29 May, 10am - starting at the arboretum this walk crosses the old deer park to a forest track that heads up the hill to a quiet country lane. The descent is through fields and woodlands and part follows a deep gorge to lead back to the park. Plenty of time at the park to follow nature trails, have fun in the playground and sample the ice cream.

Easy to moderate - expect some climbs in these rewarding 6-milers...

Walk 4: Whitland to Llanboidy via Whitland Abbey (6 miles), Saturday 28 May, 9.15am - following a footpath through the fields to the remains of the Abbey, the Landsker Trail then heads through idyllic countryside. At a point overlooking Llanboidy, with spectacular views of the Preseli Hills, the trail goes downhill through woodland into the village of Llanboidy, famous for its local Welsh cheese.

Walk 11: Dinefwr Castle and Park, Llandeilo (6 miles), Sunday 29 May, 10am - this is a charming riverside walk through historic Llandeilo to Dinefwr, with its 10th century castle, house and landscaped parks. Rambling doesn’t get much better than this - meadow, wood, ancient churches, elegant bridges and stunning views over the meandering Tywi to the Black Mountain beyond.

More strenuous - for those with a fully-fledged walking addiction...

Walk 3: Llandissilio to Llandboidy (Landsker Trail, 11 miles), Saturday 28 May, 9.15am - following the valley of the Eastern Cleddau, this 11-mile hike climbs through forest to Efailwen on the Carmarthenshire / Pembrokeshire border, reputedly the site of the Rebecca Riot in 1839. The descent goes through woodland into the beautiful Taf Valley to Login for traces of the "Cardi Bach" railway before descending into the village of Llanboidy.

For more information and a full festival programme click here or visit www.llanelliramblers.org.uk

(Walking Map »)