Carmarthen Ramblers

Carmarthen and District Ramblers

The Carmarthen and District Ramblers' Group was formed in 1974. We are a friendly group and are always happy to welcome new members.

As well as local walks in our lovely Carmarthenshire countryside, we travel into Pembrokeshire, Ceredigion, the Gower Peninsula, the Black Mountain, and the Brecon Beacons to enjoy an amazing variety of scenery. On most programmes we also offer two or three day walking adventures on long distance paths in Wales. Some members have completed Glyndwr's Way and are currently walking the Dyfi Way.

We offer a walk every weekend. On the first Saturday of the month we usually have a shorter walk, and on most Sundays we enjoy longer walks. View our Walks Programme for details and join us for a walk! Walks are open to anyone, including visitors on holiday, and newcomers are especially welcome. After walking with us a few times you should consider joining the Ramblers to enjoy a range of membership benefits.

Our group membership as of 1st October 2011 is 81 members.

Notice Board

Next Regular Walk

On Sunday 20th May, Pat & Dave Bush will be leading a 9 mile circular walk on the Gower, including Bishopston Woods and Caswell Bay. Contact them on 01267 230994 for more information.

The Ardudwy Way (June 2012)

Dennis & Carolyn Hills will lead a walk along the entire Ardudwy Way (in the Harlech area) over 3 days starting on Wednesday 27 June and finishing on Friday 29 June. Have a look at http://www.taithardudwyway.com/ or ring Dennis & Carolyn on 01267 211819 for further details.

Click here to download an Ardudwy Way information sheet as an Word file - The Ardudwy Way (doc)

Looking back at Barmouth where the Ardudwy Way begins.

The route traverses the Rhinog Hills offering splendid views.

The Dyfi Way (Sept 2012)

On Sept 8th and 9th, Cyril Phillips will be leading the last two legs of the Dyfi Way long distance walk. The group will be walking 11 miles from Penegoes to Furnace on the 8th, and 12 miles from Furnace to Borth on the 9th. Ring Cyril on 01267 232825 for further details.

The Dyfi Way follows the Dyfi River from sea to source and back again. It meanders through the lovely hills of mid-Wales.

Below is a message from Richard Powell, our group Footpaths Officer, which is of interest to all of us.

Is it worth reporting problems on footpaths to the Carmarthenshire County Council?

On the 5th of May 2010 I came across a stream crossing in the Drefach Felindre area. The Ordnance Survey map indicated a footbridge to cross the stream but there was no bridge deck. I reported the matter to the CCC Rights of Way team and was told they would look at it and put it on the job list. A couple of subsequent visits showed the same state of affairs so when the Rangers were in the area last year doing vegetation clearance I mentioned the missing deck to them. I heard nothing more, that is, until a few days ago when I bumped into a local walker who lived at the end of a track not too far from the bridge site. That is when I learnt that the bridge had been repaired. You will see from the photograph below that the bridge site is very attractive. Now that the bridge is repaired, the walk to Rhos along an old track, which has some very fine views, shows the worth of this footpath route restoration.

So why am I telling you this story? The County is responding well to the reports they receive from me. Providing the County ROW team with grid references and photographs really helps, but also I can look up the Definitive Map on my computer to obtain the footpath number. The FP number is a key reference as the County staff can go straight to the particular footpath file to check the details such as diversion orders, complaints about blockages, and other problems. An example is an excellent report sent to me by Dennis early this year. It was about the collapse of a stream bank on the line of a footpath discovered on a recce for a planned group walk. The County turned out quickly on that report and even sent me photographs of the repaired footpath. So, if you do come across footpath problems in our group area do send me a report with a description, the grid reference and a photo if possible. Whilst I cannot guarantee that the County will always attend to the problem quickly my experience is that patience pays off. Group members might well have reported a problem to me and, like me, not heard anything more. That could be because the County might have taken action but not given me any feedback. Please keep me in the picture if you happen to have revisited a footpath problem site. Let me know please if all is O.K. or whether the problem is outstanding. I will have no hesitation in reporting an unresolved problem again.
Richard, Group Footpath Officer

Progress on the creation of a coastal path in England!

As you know, the All Wales Coastal Path opened officially on the weekend of May 5 & 6, 2012.
Recently, the Ramblers Association launched a petition calling on the Government to fulfil its duty to create a proper coastal path in England. The good news it that we did it! Thanks to the support of all of us who signed the petition, the government now has a plan for the English Coastal Path. In 2017 we will be able to walk from Hull to Dorset (the long way round using the Wales Coastal Path.)
To see a map of what had been agreed, click here.

New Programme: The Walking Partnership

Carmarthen & District Ramblers has recently joined The Walking Partnership. This new partnership, supported by Ramblers Worldwide Holidays, provides direct financial contributions to local walking groups to help with organising group walks and to encourage people to get out walking. See our Useful Links page for more information.

Ramblers Membership Benefits

Regular programme of walks organised by Carmarthen & District Ramblers
Subscription to the quarterly magazine Walk, full of features, inspiring photography and ideas to help you get more out of walking
Free copy of the WALK BRITAIN guide, packed with useful walking information and great walking routes in the UK
A range of discretionary discounts in many outdoor stores
Access to the Ramblers' Association Ordnance Survey map library

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Notice Board

Next Regular Walk On Sunday 20th May, Pat & Dave Bush will be leading a 9 mile circular walk on the Gower, including Bishopston Woods and Caswell Bay. Contact them on 01267 230994 for more information.

The Ardudwy Way (June 2012) Dennis & Carolyn Hills will lead a walk along the entire Ardudwy Way (in the Harlech area) over 3 days starting on Wednesday 27 June and finishing on Friday 29 June. Have a look at http://www.taithardudwyway.com/ or ring Dennis & Carolyn on 01267 211819 for further details. Click here to download an Ardudwy Way information sheet as an Word file - The Ardudwy Way (doc)

Looking back at Barmouth where the Ardudwy Way begins.	The route traverses the Rhinog Hills offering splendid views.

The Dyfi Way (Sept 2012) On Sept 8th and 9th, Cyril Phillips will be leading the last two legs of the Dyfi Way long distance walk. The group will be walking 11 miles from Penegoes to Furnace on the 8th, and 12 miles from Furnace to Borth on the 9th. Ring Cyril on 01267 232825 for further details.

The Dyfi Way follows the Dyfi River from sea to source and back again. It meanders through the lovely hills of mid-Wales.

Below is a message from Richard Powell, our group Footpaths Officer, which is of interest to all of us.
Is it worth reporting problems on footpaths to the Carmarthenshire County Council?
On the 5th of May 2010 I came across a stream crossing in the Drefach Felindre area. The Ordnance Survey map indicated a footbridge to cross the stream but there was no bridge deck. I reported the matter to the CCC Rights of Way team and was told they would look at it and put it on the job list. A couple of subsequent visits showed the same state of affairs so when the Rangers were in the area last year doing vegetation clearance I mentioned the missing deck to them. I heard nothing more, that is, until a few days ago when I bumped into a local walker who lived at the end of a track not too far from the bridge site. That is when I learnt that the bridge had been repaired. You will see from the photograph below that the bridge site is very attractive. Now that the bridge is repaired, the walk to Rhos along an old track, which has some very fine views, shows the worth of this footpath route restoration. So why am I telling you this story? The County is responding well to the reports they receive from me. Providing the County ROW team with grid references and photographs really helps, but also I can look up the Definitive Map on my computer to obtain the footpath number. The FP number is a key reference as the County staff can go straight to the particular footpath file to check the details such as diversion orders, complaints about blockages, and other problems. An example is an excellent report sent to me by Dennis early this year. It was about the collapse of a stream bank on the line of a footpath discovered on a recce for a planned group walk. The County turned out quickly on that report and even sent me photographs of the repaired footpath. So, if you do come across footpath problems in our group area do send me a report with a description, the grid reference and a photo if possible. Whilst I cannot guarantee that the County will always attend to the problem quickly my experience is that patience pays off. Group members might well have reported a problem to me and, like me, not heard anything more. That could be because the County might have taken action but not given me any feedback. Please keep me in the picture if you happen to have revisited a footpath problem site. Let me know please if all is O.K. or whether the problem is outstanding. I will have no hesitation in reporting an unresolved problem again. Richard, Group Footpath Officer


Progress on the creation of a coastal path in England!
As you know, the All Wales Coastal Path opened officially on the weekend of May 5 & 6, 2012. Recently, the Ramblers Association launched a petition calling on the Government to fulfil its duty to create a proper coastal path in England. The good news it that we did it! Thanks to the support of all of us who signed the petition, the government now has a plan for the English Coastal Path. In 2017 we will be able to walk from Hull to Dorset (the long way round using the Wales Coastal Path.) To see a map of what had been agreed, click here.

New Programme: The Walking Partnership Carmarthen & District Ramblers has recently joined The Walking Partnership. This new partnership, supported by Ramblers Worldwide Holidays, provides direct financial contributions to local walking groups to help with organising group walks and to encourage people to get out walking. See our Useful Links page for more information.