Llanwrtyd
Wells
is a small town in Powys Mid Wales ...indeed it claims to be the smallest
town in Britain! If travelling from Mid Wales to Carmarthenshire in
the west of Wales Llanwrtyd is to be found on the A483, between
the towns of Builth Wells and Llandovery.
Once a popular spa resort the spruce little town is again popular with
tourists holding several festivals and events throughout the year.
Llanwrtyd
Wells is ideal as a base for hill walking, mountain biking, pony trekking,
bird watching, and is often in the national news for more bizarre activities
including the world bog snorkelling championships, the man versus the
horse race, and an annual beer drinking festival. I can't confirm that
the town does hold the record for being the smallest town in Britain
but it surely holds the record for the largest number of festivals per
head of population!
Geographically Llanwrtyd sits alongside the River Irfon with the hills
of Mynydd Eppynt to the south east and the rugged uplands of the Cambrian
mountains to the north. To the north west is Llyn
Brianne and the Upper
Towy valley. Llyn Brianne has been popular with extreme sport enthusiasts
since its association with mountain biking trails but in 2008 the 300ft
tall Llyn Brianne Dam acheived fame, or notoriety, when a video of kayakers
hurling themselves down the spillway at speeds of 40mph was posted on
Youtube!
Facilities for mountain bikers in Llanwrtyd Wells include the
Mynydd Trawsnant Trail, the Irfon Forest Trail and the Esgair Dafydd
Trail, while facilities for bog snorkellers include deep channels of
muddy water in wet boggy fields.
Although Llanwrtyd may have a population
of some 600 it can not be said to lack facilities for visitors with
accommodation available ranging from self catering in holiday cottages
to tourist board graded hotels and bed and breakfast establishments
... with all options available to be booked online here at the www.walesdirectory.co.uk!