Coast & Countryside

Heart of Wales Railway

Hop aboard the Heart of Wales Line, sit back, relax and take a train cruise through a land of lush rolling hills and crystal clear mountain streams.

As the train snakes through the 121 miles from Swansea to Shrewsbury, the rugged scenery switches from industrial landscapes to castles, beaches, rivers and mountains. All are peppered with the tranquil villages and picturesque Victorian spa towns that are dotted along one of the most scenic lines in the United Kingdom.

Included in the feast of panoramic views are the beautiful Loughor estuary near Llanelli; the meandering river Tywi between Llandeilo and Llandovery and the Red Kite in the skies above the Eppynt hills near Llanwrtyd Wells.

The atmosphere is so relaxed and unhurried that it will be difficult to drag your gaze away from the beauty of the unspoilt countryside but the train does stop at the picturesque market towns of Llandeilo and Llandovery as it travels through the meandering Tywi Valley before heading for the Sugar Loaf Mountain.

This is one of the highlights of the journey and as the train makes its way into the mountains a good tip is to try to sit on the right hand side of the carriage for the best views.

You’ll stop at Cynghordy at what appears to be an unattractive looking shelter but is actually a vintage dating back to 1892. There’s a lovely local story to go with this landmark concerning a goat due to be despatched to Scotland to mate. Unfortunately, the station-master couldn't sort out the paper work to deal with the consignment, so he tethered the animal underneath the signal box. She was duly collected by her owner, a couple of weeks later, who must have wondered why the trip had been so unfruitful!

There are many other attractions close to the railway line, namely the National Botanic Garden of Wales, Aberglasney Gardens and the Millennium Coastal Park.

Also, the Black Mountain in the Brecon Beacons is part of the Fforest Fawr Geopark, which is itself the only site in Wales to be listed among the most exceptional geological sites in Europe. The Geopark is within easy reach of the Heart of Wales stations at Llandovery and Llandeilo.