START START RFC SA14 6SU B4317

47 A476 Drefach

Tumble Tumble

B4317 DL A N OO D CROSS HANDS W R I D Pontyberem

E B4306 swiss valley trail A 22 Kilometre traffic free family friendly cycle path that follows the old Mynydd Mawr Mineral railway route through the lush greenery of this once industrial area. The path takes in reservoirs, railway bridges, woodlands and valleys. A great ride for the whole family.

47 CYNHEIDRE

B4309 Horeb SWISS VALLEY

Upper Lliedi Five Roads reservoir Reservoirs A476

s w i s s valley WATER B4309 47 Y P D A Park N R K A Howard S

Fe l i n foel SA15 4SR MILLENNIUM Cape COASTAL PARK & PWLL lane A476 L lli Discovery FINISH Pen-y-fan Centre BUS SERVICES

195 BIKE HIRE , Five Roads, Pontyberem (Mon - Sat) Ski Pembrey at 128 Pembrey Country swiss valley trail Llanelli, Cross Hands, Park. Tumble (Mon-Sat) 01554 742424 Tracing a languid S shape from the coast at Llanelli inland to Cross Hands, this gentle 13-mile car-free trail (part of National Cycle Network Route 47) follows the track of the old Tramway – opened in 1803, this was Britain earliest operational public railway. Passing beautiful reservoirs and woodlands, and with dramatic views of the upland meadows and fringes of the Brecon Beacons, it’s a rewarding day out for all ages. The southern half of the trail runs gently uphill from Llanelli, so for younger or less experienced riders is best pedalled north to south. https://www.sustrans.org.uk/ncn/map/route/swiss-valley-cycle-route-llanelli

project are working to restore the line at the south, paths leading off the cycle trail Cross Hands Cynheidre. They’ve already coaxed vintage climb south to Parc Howard, its Italianate At the northern end of the trail, National diesel locos back into action, along with a Edwardian mansion now housing a museum Cycle Network Route 47 continues north- first class buffet coach and a 1950s ‘bubble of local heritage. The surrounding park west towards . The busy town car’. Admire the locos from the bike track or is a great place for a family picnic, with a of Cross Hands has a popular biking hub in ride the rails on one of the popular family duckpond, children’s play area, regular the form of County Cycles, a spacious bike open days on selected bank holidays. events and views of the bay. shop and workshop with a buzzing café. www.llanellirailway.co.uk www.parchoward.org.uk Bean on a Bike has great coffee, hot and cold meals plus delectable home-made cakes horeb Sandy Water Park – a bright, friendly spot to chat to other Just 150m west of the cycle trail, the Waun The large rectangular lake that forms the enthusiasts or just treat yourself to a snack Wyllt is a stylishly refurbished 18th-century centrepiece of this appealing park was or caffeine boost. inn in the hamlet of Horeb. With comfortable originally connected with the Llanelli (later www.county-cycles.com B&B accommodation, caravan pitches, bike Duport) Steelworks that closed in 1981. racks and seasonal menus of freshly cooked Today the reed-fringed lake is home to Tumble fare, it’s particularly tempting for cyclists at ducks, swans and other waterbirds, and in If you get peckish en route, Tumble has a lunch and breakfast (open to non-residents). summer you can spot orchids and other few shops and takeaways just down the The name means ‘wild moor’, and there are wildflowers while pedalling around the main street from the trail. Pause to admire tremendous views across to high hills to verdant parkland. the Millennium Milepost at the roadside the east from this stretch of the cycle track. junction, installed as part of a nationwide Just to the south rises a lofty square brick Millennium Coastal Park celebration of the National Cycle Network chimney, a reminder of the brickworks that in 1999. This black milepost, titled Tracks, thrived in Horeb in the 19th century. & Discovery Centre carries a thought-provoking poem by Belfast The imaginatively landscaped park opened artist David Dudgeon, beginning: “Down a Swiss Valley Reservoirs by the Queen in 2002 includes a wide, wandering path I have travelled, where the Between Horeb and Llanelli, two picturesque snaking path winding between picnic areas setting sun lies upon the ground…” reservoirs glint in the valley below the and benches, with access to golden sands cycle trail; the first, the Lower Cwm Lliedi from where kitesurfers venture into the Woodland ride reservoir, was completed in 1878, and the waves. At the heart of the park, alongside South of Tumble, the track traverses a upper reservoir in 1905. Take a break at the North Dock carparks, is the striking, dense patch of conifer woodland, all mossy picnic tables above the reservoirs, where glass-fronting Llanelli Discovery Centre, branches and ivy-carpeted earth, before birdfeeders attract woodland species, or providing tourist information and toilets. emerging onto a hillside balcony with far- follow one of the footpaths down from the Upstairs, Flanagans Coastline Café offers reaching views north-west across the valley bike trail to loop around the pretty, tree-lined terrific coffees, cakes, hot and cold meals and south to the Loughor Estuary at Llanelli. artificial meres. The trail then descends and floor-to-ceiling windows providing a vast Peer into the trees to the east and you’ll spy through an atmospheric artificial gorge – a panorama of the Loughor Estuary – a fine old wooden railway sleepers and the remains cutting through the rock, dripping with moss place to celebrate the end (or fuel for the of disused tracks. and ferns. beginning) of your ride. Cynheidre Parc Howard The Llanelly and Mynydd Mawr Railway, As the trail approaches the outskirts of which succeeded the Carmarthenshire Llanelli, to the east stands the famed Tramway on the tracks north of Llanelli, Felinfoel Brewery, producing fine ales since closed in 1989 after the Cynheidre Colliery 1878; it was reputedly the first brewery in ceased production. Now the enthusiasts of the world to sell craft ale in a can, as long the Llanelli & Mynydd Mawr Railway heritage ago as 1935 (www.felinfoel.com). A mile to