the 19th century but now a garden centre, before following the lane round to the right, now with magnificent views to the east along the Teifi Valley.
Views towards the Cambrian Mountains from near Dol-llan Farm
The site of Craig Gwrtheyrn, the Iron Age hill fort, can be seen over to the left. A large tree covered hill, it was originally occupied some 2000 years ago, but later was reputed to be the stronghold of Gwrtheyrn (also known as Vortgern), a powerful king of the Britons during the fifth century.
The lane now begins a gentle descent, passing isolated farms before a junction with the B4336. Turn right along this for 300 metres to the next road junction and turn left, following the road to Carmarthen for just over 1km before turning right down the access drive to Dolmaen Farm. After 75 metres turn left through a gate leading into a field and walk along its top edge, then right down its far edge to pass through a field gate on the left. Once through bear right and go immediately right again through a second gate, then turn left alongside a row of trees to reach a stile over a fence into a steeply sloping pasture punctuated with clumps of bramble and gorse. The next section can be boggy, but the best way of avoiding most of the wet area is to traverse across the pasture for about 80 metres, then zig-zag down to a stile and footbridge at the bottom. Head directly across the next field to the stile and footbridge spanning the Afon Tyweli on the far side.
The lovely Afon Tyweli
The footbridge is rather narrow and partly constructed from sections of railway line, but there is a comforting handrail to assist progress. Once over, continue directly ahead across a grassy meadow to reach a waymarker on the far side and here bear slightly right to a stile, then follow the winding footpath through trees to reach a further stile that gives access to the bed of the old Carmarthen to Cardigan railway line. Turn right along this and follow it for approximately 3km, passing through two gates en-route, with lovely views over the river and surrounding woodlands.
The line was authorised in 1854 as the Carmarthen and Cardigan Railway’s abortive attempt to create a rail link between the two towns. By 1860 the Company managed to construct the line as far as Conwil before having to cease further works until it could raise enough capital to build the line to Pencader in 1864. The line was extended to Landysul a few months later but by that time the Company was in severe financial difficulties and went into receivership. In 1867 attempts were made to run the line using horse drawn buses along the uncompleted sections but in 1881 the Company was wound up. The line was then acquired by the Great Western Railway who managed to complete the line as far as Newcastle Emlyn in 1898 but, despite its name, that was as far is it ever went. Instead, the link to Cardigan was achieved by the Whitland & Cardigan Railway, which followed a route to the west.
Pixie’s Ears fungi growing on a fallen tree in the Tyweli valley
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