Robert Lloyd - a Sir Gar Blog of random news . . . and some Clecs!

Historic Plas Llanelly House, one of the jewels in Llanelli’s crown, has a new ‘head of the household’. Paul Carter has taken on the new role of Commercial and Events Manager at Llanelli town centre’s premier tourist attraction. He aims to make Llanelly House a major ‘destination venue’ for first class events and exhibitions and raise the profile of the historic property for weddings, top quality entertainment and great value quality food and drink. Mr Carter, 50, said: “Llanelly House is very familiar to many in and around Llanelli, but for some it is still something of a hidden treasure. “We’ll be creating a range of exciting new activities in Llanelly House to reach out to those who have yet to experience the delights of the house. We’ll be putting Llanelly House firmly on the map as a ‘go to’ venue attractive to one and all. “Our historic doors are open with a welcome to all in West Wales (and beyond) and we look forward to working with the local community in developing ne...

A host of legendary activities planned for residents and visitors to south west Wales during the ‘2017 Year of Legends’ have been officially unveiled. People will be able to enjoy the stunning natural landscape and fascinating history of the area in a series of walking, cycling and road trips planned as part of the campaign. Ken Skates, Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Infrastructure, officially launched the South West Wales Legends Tourism Campaign at the Beacon Enterprise Centre in Llanelli. Swansea Bay, Carmarthenshire and Pembrokeshire councils, local tourism associations as well as the Pembrokeshire National Park Authority, have come together to form a public-private partnership that will lead the way in promoting national tourism campaigns for Visit Wales’s Year of Legends throughout 2017. Led by Carmarthenshire County Council, the partnership, has secured £115,000 through the Welsh Government Regional Tourism Engagement Fund to deliver a series of marketing actions. Pro...

Carmarthen's legendary Merlin Festival is planned for a relaunch in 2017. The event aims to celebrate the “Year of the Legend” in Carmarthenshire, one of a series of themed years being spearheaded by Visit Wales to promote what the country has to offer to tourists. The current 2016 ‘Year of Adventure’ is aimed at the growing action holiday market and promotes activities such as orienteering and walking. In 2018 it will be the ‘Year of the Sea’. A range of activities are being planned by Carmarthenshire County Council’s Marketing and Media team to mark the year locally, one of the highlights of which will be the Merlin Festival, centred in Carmarthen. The event is scheduled to take place on March 24 and 25, and aims to celebrate the legend of Merlin and other Arthurian characters said to have lived in the town and given it its name. Carmarthen is translated into Caerfyrddin in Welsh, which means Merlin’s Fort; the town also has Merlin’s Oak and Merlin’s Hill, plus many tales of t...

Photos from visit to Tredegar House (National Trust, Newport). See album link below. https://goo.gl/photos/7rf4oryFdAmPnRb36

A major award has been won by Rheilffordd Cwm Gwendraeth Valley Railway, a heritage and community line being developed on a unique disused rail corridor starting in Kidwelly, Carmarthenshire. The £75,000 award will enable the establishment of a Velorail (cycle-rail) operation in the first phase, bringing a family tourist attraction to the area. The Velorail project will introduce to the UK a form of activity popular in France, using ‘carriages’ propelled by two ‘cycles’, with seating for another two-three people. Velorails are great fun for everyone and suitable for all ages and abilities. The operation will ‘kick-start’ the development of the entire Rheilffordd Cwm Gwendraeth Valley Railway, which runs between Kidwelly and Cwm Mawr near Pontyberem. The railway was originally built on the tow path of probably the world’s first industrial canal – the first canal in Wales - providing a unique rail corridor with rail, cycle track and long tracts of waterway along the sam...

There are thrills and spills galore in Carmarthenshire as part of the Great Weekend of Adventure taking place across Wales this weekend. Adrenaline junkies should head to Pembrey Country Park on Saturday, April 2 for Round 1 of the British Mountain Bike XC Series which will see top class riders battling it out on a fast and challenging course. A more cultural adventure awaits visitors to Laugharne Weekend from Friday, April 1 to Sunday, April 3; or for fun for all the family Cenarth Adventure Centre has put together a packed programme of activities for Saturday and Sunday, April 2 and 3. The county is also welcoming two international travel vloggers who will be joining Llandysul Paddlers on their very own adventure playground swooping down the river Teifi rapids on a kayak. Wales has made 2016 the ‘Year of Adventure’ and the council has secured Welsh Government funding to help showcase what Carmarthenshire has to offer - from whirlwind weekend getaways to longer-stay roam-arounds. Wh...

Visitor numbers to Llanellli’s North Dock have hit an all time high. Bumper figures show that the Millennium Coastal Park site has attracted an extra 1,000 visitors every week in the last six months. More than 52,000 parking tickets have been sold at North Dock from April to November this year compared to 42,000 during the same period last year. Based on three people per car this equates to 30,000 more visitors - an increase of 23 per cent. Ice cream sales have also increased with Joe’s vanilla flavour being the most popular. The huge rise comes just months after a new nautical themed playground opened in April. The grassed facility located in front of the main car park has proved hugely popular with locals and visitors alike. One Swansea family said: “We love it here and travel down regularly from Bishopston with our children. We bring our bikes with us too as it’s so safe for the children to ride on the cycle path and they absolutely love it. The ice cream is delicious too!” Seaso...

Pembrey Country Park is playing host to a giant water slide in September. Activities company, Slip N Slide, will set up their 500 ft slide, which is longer than a football pitch – for two days on September 5 and 6. The attraction will be located near the ski slope and will be open from 10am – 7pm on Saturday and Sunday. All day slider tickets are £25, with a limited number available, and will include unlimited sliding during the day plus free tube rental. Single slide tickets are available at the park on the day for £5 per ride or three rides for £14. Entry to the park is £5 per car. Slip and Slide has been a massive hit across America and in the UK and is a first in Carmarthenshire. Rider’s can take along their own inflatable to cling to as they make their way down the steep slope. County executive board member for regeneration and leisure services, Cllr Meryl Gravell said: “These events have been popular across the UK and are great attractions for the whole family whatever the age...

A little known but hard working group of small businesses is celebrating its 21st anniversary. The Carmarthenshire Farm and County Holidays Group was formed in 1994 as a self-help group, to promote their individual businesses and support each other with marketing and advice. Their members offer a range of facilities including bed and breakfast, self catering cottages as well as camping and caravanning. The 20 group members are the most active of their kind in Wales. They recently published a collection of recipes called “Carmarthenshire Farmhouse Fayre” which rapidly sold out and is now only available in electronic format on the group’s website www.carmarthenshirefarms.com . The group will be at the Royal Welsh Show again this year and last year gave cookery demonstrations at Llanelli’s National Eisteddfod. Group chair Sharon Richards, from Abergwili, said the group prided themselves on the use and promotion of the best of local produce wherever possible, giving advice to visitors on...

The Welsh Game Fair is returning to Pembrey Country Park on June 20 and 21. Following the resounding success of last year’s event the game fair now looks destined to settle at Pembrey for the foreseeable future. A fantastic line up for this year’s main ring attractions include world famous Jason Smythe Adrenalin Tour which comprises quad and motorcycle stunt riders, The Dingle Fingle Comedy Act and Yee Olde Redtail Falconry Display as well as many others. Hundreds of trade stands, a huge craft marquee, food hall and an array of displays, exhibitions and competitions will delight adults and children alike. Last year more than 22,000 visitors from as far afield as Scotland and Czechoslovakia flooded into the park in 5,000-plus cars over the weekend. A record attendance is forecast with enquiries for accommodation flooding in. The council’s executive board member for leisure services, Cllr Meryll Gravell said: “Pembrey Country Park continues to attract major events like this and it’s a...

A leading Carmarthenshire councillor has visited a mansion that has been turned into a Five Star B and B. Cllr Meryl Gravell called at Glangwili Mansion in Llanllawddog which has been refurbished to a very high standard by George and Linda Reid over the last three years and is now a Five Star Gold Award tourism property. The Reids applied to Carmarthenshire County Council for a Strengthening the Tourism Appeal of Rural Carmarthenshire (STARC) grant to erect a barbecue hut and lighting. They wanted to add to the facilities provided based on customer feedback. The guests were offered breakfast but they had to leave the premises for evening meals. The council approved a grant of just over £10,000 towards the cost of an all-weather BBQ hut for a minimum of 12 guests to have a facility where they can stay at the mansion and have a social gathering over food. The mansion is often booked out to large groups or families. Packs of locally supplied meat and produce are provided by the mansion...

A leading Carmarthenshire councillor has visited an old coaching inn now catering for the cycling community. Cllr Meryl Gravell visited the Black Lion inn in Abergorlech to see landscaping work carried out in the grounds and improved facilities for cyclists. The Black Lion is an old coaching inn servicing the local community and tourist trade. The inn is in the centre of the popular Brechfa mountain bike trail and is visited by cyclists all year round. Landlord George Rashbrook successfully applied to Carmarthenshire County Council for a  Strengthening the Tourism Appeal of Rural Carmarthenshire (STARC) and was awarded more than £16,500. The project was for the enhancement of the beer garden, bike facilities and covered barbecue area. The work includes creating additional seating space and landscaping in the beer garden by creating two new levels from the currently unusable section of the garden, enhancing the aspect of the beer garden and maximise the view of the Roman stone br...

Burry Port has a new ‘essential guide’ that informs of everything from its business bustle to its romantic settings to propose. If you want to 'tingle in the shingle' the guide informs that Burry Port has that magic-draw to go for a romantic stroll in the toe-tingling Atlantic surf and even identifies the fruiterers where you can buy the passion fruit. The colourful guide has been inspired by Pembrey and Burry Port Town Council supported by Carmarthenshire County Council’s tourism department. It lists all the town businesses from grocers to home interior designers and hairdressers to restaurants and takeaways - an astonishing 54 in total. They are all indexed to a colourful street map in the A5 fold-up brochure that also includes all the town’s attractions. As the brochure says: “Whether you’re an experienced cyclist, a family with children, or looking for historic attractions, coastal gems or quite simply fantastic pit stops to eat, Burry Port is the town to visit. “Burry ...

Hywel Dda University Health Board has produced a short guide to remind people living or visiting Pembrokeshire how to access healthcare services for women and children, ahead of the holiday season. Some changes to hospital based services, in the areas of maternity, gynaecology and neonatal care, were made in August 2014 and to paediatric hospital inpatient services in October 2014. Most care remains unchanged and the guide aims to remind people about what is still provided within Pembrokeshire, either within the community or from Withybush Hospital, Haverfordwest. It also provides contact information about how to access these services, as well as those provided from Glangwili Hospital, Carmarthen. Chief Executive Steve Moore said: “We hope this short guide will assist anyone who may still be unsure about what our services for women and children look like and how to access them. “We heard concern when we went out into the community as part of our new ongoing engagement events – Let’s Ta...

One firm of Llanelli taxi drivers took time out over Easter to discover Carmarthenshire’s hidden gems. It’s all about DR Taxi drivers increasing their “knowledge” and making sure they can better inform or suggest to their passengers some great places to see that they might otherwise miss. From cuddling chocolate spotted piglets at the Agri Tourism Cwmcrwth Holiday Cottage Farm to studying flocking Flamingos at Penclacwydd; uncovering the secrets of her Ladyship’s Chamber at Llanelly House and learning of the 2,000-years of magical power and influence at Newton House and the medieval deer park in the grounds. Partner in Stepney Street’s DR Taxi’s, Carol Rees, said working with Carmarthenshire council’s touring department they were giving added value training to 16 of their drivers to become Carmarthenshire Ambassadors. “As a result our drivers can now offer visitors high quality customer service and a warm and friendly welcome to our county.” Carol said the idea had been spawned by Am...

Latest news from the Bluestone Resort in Pembrokeshire - Enjoy a luxurious Spa break from just £99* Life can be hectic, and that can be great fun. But there comes a time when we all need to stop, take stock and recharge our batteries. Take a little overdue “me” time to relax and indulge yourself. There’s a special place in the village here at Bluestone called The Well Spa Retreat. It’s a sanctuary to restore and rejuvenate. Whether alone or with family or friends, you can close yourself off from the outside world, leave your stresses behind and focus on your health and wellbeing. Our Spa Revival Break provides a 50 minute treatment of your choice, as well as a 2 hour Celtic Experience in our Thermal Rooms. Retire to your Studio Apartment after an afternoon of pampering, before enjoying a 3 course evening meal at one of our restaurants. We've a whole host of Spa breaks on offer so come and find the perfect one for you! *Terms & Conditions apply, Certain dates are exclude...

A whole month of fun is being planned to celebrate all that is great about Carmarthenshire. Throughout March, a campaign is taking place to raise awareness of the delights which can be found On Your Doorstep. It aims to showcase attractions, activities, local businesses and a guide to what’s on during the month. Three special events will take place in town centres as part of the scheme - in Carmarthen on March 7, Ammanford on March 14, and Llanelli on March 21. Businesses are invited to come along to show off their goods and services. Companies with activities such as potters wheels, climbing walls, arts, crafts and sports are all invited to attend to add to the entertainment. There will be live broadcasts at all three locations from Radio Carmarthenshire and an intensive promotional campaign will be run in partnership with local media. On Your Doorstep is being run by Carmarthenshire County Council in partnership with Carmarthenshire Tourism Association. It is part of Wales T...

Carmarthenshire will be setting out its stall at this year’s Caravan and Camping Show in Birmingham. Council tourism officers will have a stand at the Caravan Camping & Motorhome Show at the Birmingham NEC from February 17-22. Representatives of Carmarthenshire caravan parks and attractions will be helping to man the stand. Now over 70,000m² (the equivalent of 1,750 average size campsite pitches) the show is the UK’s biggest start of season showcase, of caravans, motorhomes, tents and holiday homes all under one roof, last year attracting over 83,000 visitors. All the major UK manufacturers will be showcasing their latest models plus ‘Special Edition’ models from major dealers. Carmarthenshire’s objectives at the show are to promote Carmarthenshire as a holiday destination to the 83,000 plus people that attend the event, aim to attract potential caravanners/campers to visit and stay in the area and at the attractions within the county, distribute Carmarthenshire literature and p...

There's a big shout out this week to tourism businesses in Carmarthenshire. Carmarthenshire Tourism Association wants to help build stronger links with local tourism business operators through Tourism Business Support Roadshows. Nia Ball, Chief Executive Carmarthenshire Tourism Association, explained: Those involved in running hotels, bed & breakfasts, holiday cottages, places to eat etc are best placed to recommend that their guests and customers come to you, acting as ambassadors for your business. And so, any opportunities to meet and chat informally with these tourism trade representatives is a positive one, allowing you to share information, updates and news about what you offer to visitors to our county - and giving your industry colleagues the details they need to pass on, and to recommend and promote you… About the Tourism Business Support Roadshows We’re holding our informal ‘roadshows’ as a chance for tourism business operators to call in and chat with members...

He may have been born 100-years ago but Welsh poet and writer Dylan Thomas is still one of Carmarthenshire’s most powerful tourism assets. He composed most of his greatest works in his Laugharne shed, which continues to attract great numbers from far afield whenever events are staged in his adopted home of Laugharne. Carmarthenshire County Council commissioned Strategic Marketing to conduct a survey of visitors to Laugharne during this summer’s Dylan Thomas centenary celebrations. County marketing and tourism development officer Sarah Owen said: “The objective was to understand in more detail the profile of visitors and their overall experience and perception of Carmarthenshire as a place to visit. “There were quite a few surprises. A significant proportion of visitors travelled to the events from England with many making journeys of several hours. One in six travelled from South East England. Twenty per cent of Dylan’s events visitors had never been to Carmarthenshire before. These ...