The River Teifi – From source to Llanybydder

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32 Miles from our holiday cottages
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, Ceredigion

The River Teifi – From source to Llanybydder

The Teifi River is the longest river (75 miles) in Wales, it starts as a trickle at Teifi Pools in the remote Cambrian Mountains and finally enters the sea at Cardigan.  I contrast to many rivers the Teifi is a gentle meandering river close to its source, no rushing through rocky gorges and dramatic waterfalls, it saves that for further downstream.

Llyn Teifi is the source of the Teifi, it is one of the "Teifi Pools”, about 1500 ft. up the western slopes of the Cambrian Mountains. The landscape here is stark, wild, and extraordinarily beautiful. Around the lakes there are good opportunities for walking.

From Teifi Pools the river flows west past Strata Florida Abbey a beautiful, and historically important site. Strata Florida translates from Latin simply as the Vale of Flowers. It is in an impressive setting with wonderful views.  There is a large sculpture made of railway sleepers on the overlooking hill.

At the village Pontrhydfendigaid (known locally as ‘Bont’), the Teifi River, now 5 miles from its source, passes under a narrow hump backed bridge. Pontrhydfendigaid is translated from Welsh as, the bridge of the blessed ford.

From here the Teifi, flows in a more southerly direction meandering through one of the great raised bogs of Britain Cors Caron National Nature Reserve. The site comprises three raised bogs, a wild landscape made accessible by a network of boardwalks, bird hides and paths that enable visitors to get right into the heart of the reserve and to enjoy seeing the wildlife at close quarters.

Tregaron is the Teifi River’s next port of call a historic market town and the gateway to the old drover’s road across the Cambrian mountains to English markets.

From Tregaron, the River Teifi continues heading southwest towards Lampeter flanked by roads on either side. There is a bridge at Pont Llanio a small village which until the 1970 had a train service to Carmarthen and a milk factory. Nearby is the village of Llanddewi Brefi, which came to fame as a result of the BBC comedy television programme Little Britain, the home of Dafydd, the only gay in the village. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/mid/4278513.stm

At Llanfair Clydogau near Llangybi there is another scenic bridge. http://llanfairclydogau.com/

Lampeter Is a quaint town with an old fashioned atmosphere.  It has its share of academics, and ancient hippies of the peace and love variety. It is home to one of the oldest universities in Britain.

A further 4 miles downstream is Llanybydder. Notable for the horse markets held there on the last Thursday of each month. These attract dealers and buyers from all parts of the UK and Ireland. Of particular interest are the sales of local Welsh cobs.

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