A tour of Carmarthenshire and Ceredigion
This tour starts in Carmarthen, although it could start from any part of Ceredigion. Both counties have many attractions, with cheese makers and woollen mills abounding, the latter mainly in the south. It is a landscape of small villages and market towns, denuded of passenger railways since the early 1960s. For enthusists, there are 2 short railways, the Gwyli Valley line just north of Carmarthen, on part of the route of the old Carmarthen to Aberystwyth line, and the Teifi Valley near Newcastle Emlyn.

Leave Carmarthen on the A484 going northwards. As you approach Newcastle Emlyn, you will see signs to the Welsh National Woollen Museum (Amgueddfa Cymru) to your left.

Amgueddfa Cymru

In the late 19th Century, the woollen industry was of great importance to the rural communities of Wales. Of the mills around Newcastle Emlyn, the Cambrian Mills was the largest spinning and weaving complex in the region. It is now the site of the National Wool Museum of Wales, with a vast collection of exhibits to illustrate the industry. The mill is also a working industrial exhibit, with guides to show visitors the whole range of the industry, from shearing the sheep, though spinning to the weaving of cloth. The complex was extensively redeveloped in 2004 and now houses a restaurant, gift shop and facilities for disabled visitors.

Opening: April-September 10am to 5pm daily

October-March 10am to 5pm Tuesday to Saturday

Coracle Museum

Leave the museum, and head for Newcastle Emlyn, passing through the village. A short distance along this road at Cenarth is the Welsh Coracle Centre which is well worth a tour. It is open Easter to the end of October all days except Saturday. It houses a collection of coracles from all over the world, including Vietnam and India. There is also a 17th Century flour mill.Beside the site, the River Teifi provides facilities for demonstrating the coracles. The Cenarth Falls upstream from the site are spectacular. The pubs in the village provide a good lunch time meal
In the north of the region is the splendid Llanerchaeron house with recreation of an 18th C Welsh gentry mansion and farm. It has a splendid collection of farm animals including rare Welsh breed cattle and pigs. It lies just to the north of the main Lampeter-Aberaeron road.

Llaethliw Vineyard

By the end of 2013, the visitor centre at Llaethliw vineyard should be complete, giving everyone a chance to taste Welsh wines - bringing back the tradion so well pioneered at Fflynon Las by viticlturalist Martin Lewis until his retirement in the late 2010's.

To return to Carmarthen continue along the A482 to Lampeter, then take the A486

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