Llandovery Walkers are Welcome: Walk no 2: Llwynywermod Estate
This walk starts and finishes at the Castle Hotel, and takes you along clear paths and tracks
through the ancient estate of Llwynywormwood.
There is ample car parking in the Castle car park.
The walk reveals wonderful views northwards over the town and the Upper Towy Valley,
while to the east the ridge line of Mynydd Mallaen stands clearly out and in the south the
majestic outline of the mountains which overlook Llyn y Fan Fach is often visible. Fine views
are also to be had of the royal home in Wales of HRH Prince Charles and the Duchess of
Cornwall, and of the parkland of their Estate.
The red kite is commonly spotted, floating lazily overhead and quartering the ground
beneath, or engaged in a display of avian aerobatics and sending out its own particular,
unmistakeable and unforgettable call.
This is a challenging walk for the infrequent walker, with one demanding ascent and the need
to focus on the map-reading, but it is one which brings great satisfaction.
Take plenty of snacks and drinks with you, waterproof clothing, and wear stout footwear.
Distance: 10 kms.
Time: 2 – 3 hrs.
Grade: medium.
Map: OS Explorer 187: Llandovery / Llanymddyfri
1. Leave the Castle Hotel and take the path at the back of the car-park which passes in
front of the ruined Castle and its statue of Llywellyn ap Gruffudd Fychan. Continue
along the riverside path until you reach Waterloo Bridge, built across the Bran in
1842. Take care climbing the wooden steps up, turn R and cross the bridge. After 25m
turn R into Bronallt Farm.
2. Follow the farm track for 200m to the farm itself, pass in front of the farmhouse.
Make your way half R to the stile which marks the start of a track through the woods
in front of you.
3. This track moves steadily uphill with a few twists and turns along the way, and ends
at a stile which allows you to cross into the steeply-inclined field beyond. 500m.
4. Follow the faint path diagonally L for 400m which climbs onwards and upwards, and
eventually brings you to a kissing gate in the far corner of the field.
5. Pass through the kissing gate, and follow the clearly marked new route straight ahead,
mid-way between the pond and the derelict farmhouse of Cefn yr Allt Uchaf (rebuilding work may have begun). Follow a semi-circular route, arcing left, and passing
through two kissing gates. Be aware that the ground here may be very boggy.
6. After 500m you will join a track which approaches the farm on the further side. Turn
R along the track. At the end of the tree line bordering this track, cross a stile and
continue ahead for 40m. Leave the sign-posted track and bear R, taking a path which
descends steeply, first through gorse bushes and then diagonally across open
grassland, before joining a wide forestry track where it enters the woodland after
400m.
7. Cross the stile and follow the newly stoned track through the woodland. After 350m
you come to a track junction. Turn L and follow this track for 450m as it winds its
way uphill. Cross a stile and after 30m you reach a crossroad of tracks.
8. Turn R through metal gate and follow the wide, flat forestry track. After 350m the
track bears left L; take time to admire Round Lodge, a quaint building which used to
belong to the Llwynywermod Estate, but which is now in private ownership. The
track then descends, offering splendid views of the fine parkland of the Royal Estate,
together in the background of the Royal Home in Wales.
9. Continue along the forestry track for 800m, passing L a rebuilt stone bridge and a
newly-created picnic site, until finally emerging from the Royal Estate.
10. Go through a gate and continue along the same track for 200m. Turn sharp R and
follow the track uphill for 200m to Pant y Gaseg Farm. Continue along the permitted
path for 300m, down through the farmyard, keeping the farmhouse up on your R, and
then reach a stile and a sign-post which marks the way ahead.
11. Keep the hedge-line on your L as it makes its way forward NE: after 250m cross the
stile on your L and follow the hedge-line now on your R. After 200m you cross
another stile which takes you into a delightful open woodland. After 200m you cross a
stile and exit the forest. Head L to join a farm track. Turn R and follow two sides of a
square around an open field for 300m. You arrive at the corner of the field where the
property of Cefn Rhuddan may clearly be seen ahead. Take care here to follow the
clearly-signposted permitted path around the property. After 200m turn R onto a
roughly-surfaced track.
12. Follow this track for 800m, passing a wood-yard L and then to a junction with a
forestry track coming in from the R.
13. Turn L here*, and follow the track for 500m alongside the woodland L and down to
the minor road, admiring R as you go the mansion of Cwm Rhuddan, built in 1891 in
the style of a French château, before turning R and so down to the A4069.
14. Finally, cross this road to reach the safety of the pavement, and continue R for 1.5
kms and so back to Llandovery town centre
*To avoid the moderately long road section, it is possible to turn R here and then bear L
after 50m following marked path and rejoin your outward route after 500m at point 7/8