140. Llansteffan – Caerfyrddin (Carmarthen)
Distance: 10.62 miles
Max Altitude: 108 m
Min Altitude: 7 m
Height Gain: 240 m
Height Loss: 229 m
Today was going to be a good day. I would be arriving in to Caerfyrddin (Carmarthen), the largest town I’d visited since Bangor. I would get to enjoy some browsing around shops and meeting up with my friend, Joann. So I set off bright and early.
I had already been warned that today wasn’t exactly the most inspiring of walks by both Terry and Joann. The Wales Coast Path follows small country lanes and farm tracks set well away from the estuary’s edge. With that in mind, here was my basic day’s view –
Although there was this red phone box in Llangain.
From Johnstown I followed the pavement into Carmarthen itself. This is a town very familiar to me from my childhood. The name Caerfyrddin means ‘Merlin’s Castle’ in English, for those of you who don’t know. With reference to Arthurian legend, make of that what you will.
I browsed around the town, including the relatively new market hall.
I browsed the shops but didn’t buy anything. I went into Cotswold Outdoors and looked around. With fewer than 200 miles left of my journey, there didn’t seem much point getting anything new. Though I did spot these on a shelf. Are they really the secret to an energy-laden trek? Better than a Welsh cake? I doubt it.
Where the old market once stood is now a shopping precinct but this sculpture has been placed here as a reminder of where it once stood.
I met Joann and her mum Lyndy and we went for food together. It was such a tonic to sit and have food with good friends. I think I must have talked their ears off though. After tea, I said a sorry goodbye to the two and we couldn’t resist taking this selfie.
Home was now tantalisingly close and reaching Carmarthen was another psychological milestone for me. Onwards.