Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Buses 280 and 281 between Carmarthen (40 minutes) and Llandovery (37 minutes) stop
here, along with bus X13 from Swansea (1½ hours).
Llandeilo is on the Heart of Wales Line, with direct services to Swansea (£5.60, 57
minutes), Llandovery (£2.50, 19 minutes), Llanwrtyd Wells (£3.90, 45 minutes), Llandrin-
dod Wells (£6.10, 1¼ hours), Knighton (£8.60, two hours) and Shrewsbury (£11, three
hours).
DON'T MISS
NATIONAL BOTANIC GARDEN OF WALES
Concealed in the rolling Tywi valley countryside, the lavish
National Botanic Garden of Wales
(
www.gardenofwales.org.uk
;
Llanarthne; adult/child £8.50/4.50; 10am-6pm Apr-Oct, 10am-4.30pm Nov-
Mar) is twice the size of London's Kew Gardens, though it isn't as mature. Opened in 2000, the garden is still a
work in progress, with new features being added every year.
Formerly an aristocratic estate, the garden has a broad range of plant habitats, from lakes and bogs to woodland
and heath, and has lots of decorative areas too - a walled garden, a Japanese garden and an apothecaries' garden -
and educational exhibits on plant medicine and organic farming. The centrepiece is the Norman Foster-designed
Great Glasshouse, an arresting glass dome that's sunk into the earth and houses endangered plants from Mediter-
ranean climes all over the world.
The garden is east of Carmarthen; take the A48 out of town (signposted Swansea and the M4) and after 8 miles
take the B4310 on the left (signposted Nantgaredig), then follow the signs to the garden.
TOP OF CHAPTER
Llandovery (Llanymddyfri)
POP 2600
Lovely Llandovery is an attractive market town that makes a good base for exploring the
western fringes of the Brecon Beacons National Park. The name means 'the church
among the waters', and the town is indeed surrounded by rivers, sitting at the meeting
place of three valleys: the Tywi, the Bran and the Gwydderig.
It was once an important assembly point for drovers taking their cattle towards the Eng-
lish markets. The Bank of the Black Ox - one of the first independent Welsh banks - was
established here by a wealthy cattle merchant.
Sights
Heritage Centre
INTERPRETATION CENTRE
