Present Day
The upper Tywi valley has some wonderful scenery and is a paradise for walkers and those who enjoy the outdoor life. Tourism is now the main industry and many of the farm buildings have been altered into dwellings and holiday lets.
Farming is also still important and contributes greatly to the economy of the area. There are less farms now but they are much larger. Sheep rearing is still the main form but many farms are now diversifying into organic crop cultivation and holiday accommodation etc.
The village school closed in 1969. From the experience in Rhandirmwyn, once the school closes there is a great void within the community.
If you visit Rhandirmwyn today you will see that there have been changes over the years. There are a few more buildings and some of our mountains are now covered in coniferous trees. Otherwise very much is the same. The population has changed greatly over the past 25 year and sadly to hear Welsh being spoken is the exception rather than the rule. Some incomers try to learn our beautiful language but find it extremely difficult and many just give up. Welsh is still taught at our schools and hopefully the younger generation will appreciate what a wonderful language it is and continue to use it.
There are two public houses, namely the Towy Bridge Inn on the bank of the river Tywi about a mile above the village and Royal Oak Inn located in the centre of the village.
The Camping and Caravanning Club have a lovely site on the bank of the river Tywi with wonderful views of the valley.
Rhandirmwyn and the upper Tywi valley has an abundance of wildlife, including red squirrels, (www.welshwildlife.org/redsquirrelproject_en.link ) foxes, badgers and of course many wonderful birds. There is the Dinas bird reserve which is north of the village. Nearby at Cilycwm is the Cwm Rhaeadr project which has been developed for us to enjoy and appreciate the outdoor life. A cycleway and mountain bike course has been constructed for the more energetic but also an all ability access trail has been built for those who have physical disabilities. This is a well thought out project and is worth a visit, something for all the family and set in beautiful scenery.
Rhandirmwyn is within the Cambrian Mountain Range and at present moves are afoot to have this area designated as an, Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The Cambrian Mountain Society has been set up to promote this project. This issue could have been resolved 30 years ago.
It is sad that such a beautiful area has to go to such lengths to try and obtain this status when the facts speak for themselves. The story has been a long one and dates back to 1965 when the National Parks Commission decided that the Cambrian Mountains should be Britain’s eleventh National Park. In 1972 the Countryside Commission made a National Park (Designation) Order for confirmation by the Secretary of State for Wales. In making the Order the Commission considered the landscape to be of (UK) national significance.
“…….cut by deep wooded valleys and gorges, their rolling moor lands are colourful at all seasons and are one of Britain’s loveliest and most attractive countrysides….. attracting discerning visitors in increasing numbers who appreciate that this ‘spirit of Wales’ is the equal in beauty of many existing national parks.”
The Order was opposed by most of the affected local authorities and by farmers and in 1973 the then Secretary of State for Wales, Peter Thomas announced his decision not to confirm the Order. Since that time effectively the Cambrian Mountains have been ignored ….. one of the finest landscapes in England and Wales undeniably worthy of National Park status, and yet completely unrecognised and unprotected, on the whim of a politician.
For more information please click on Cambrian Mountains to visit the Society’s website. Hopefully on this occasion the Society will be successful.
Why not join them and get involved in the campaign. (www.cambrian-mountains.co.uk)
Here are extracts from one of Jim Perrin’s books called, ‘Travels with The Flea and other eccentric journeys.’ Please do not be put off by the title. ‘The Flea,’ was in fact his dog. It is a wonderful read and relates to his climbing and travelling experiences all over the world, including Rhandirmwyn.
He says……‘There are many places in Wales of which I am fond, all of them entrancing in their different ways and at their proper seasons. But if I were asked by a stranger to this loveliest of all countries which place is the most beautiful, then I would tell of the pleasure in walking up the Afon Doethie on a fine day in the high spring of May or June when hawthorn blossom beacons the hillsides and bluebells shimmer like a low flame amongst the woods.’
He then warns us of possible future developments in our beautiful valley…..’It’s reached from Rhandirmwyn by walking up towards the new reservoir of Llyn Brianne, the disfigured hand-shape of which grasped too much of Wales’ beauty when it drowned the infant streams of Camddwr and Craflwyn, Tywi and Nant Gwrach. Those culpable surveyors looked, no doubt, at the adjacent valleys of the Doethie and the Pysgotwr, and I don’t for a moment disbelieve that they are capable of looking there again (at Blaen Doethie currently there are plans to install a huge wind-farm development, which would be desecration here).
Travels with The Flea. (2002) ISBN. 1-903238-36-6
Jim Perrin has long been recognised as the finest of British mountaineering and outdoor writers, with regular, outstanding features in the Daily Telegraph, Climber and The Great Outdoor.
He gets his joy and expresses it like a poet, from solitude and nature.’ - The Observer
Farming is also still important and contributes greatly to the economy of the area. There are less farms now but they are much larger. Sheep rearing is still the main form but many farms are now diversifying into organic crop cultivation and holiday accommodation etc.
The village school closed in 1969. From the experience in Rhandirmwyn, once the school closes there is a great void within the community.
If you visit Rhandirmwyn today you will see that there have been changes over the years. There are a few more buildings and some of our mountains are now covered in coniferous trees. Otherwise very much is the same. The population has changed greatly over the past 25 year and sadly to hear Welsh being spoken is the exception rather than the rule. Some incomers try to learn our beautiful language but find it extremely difficult and many just give up. Welsh is still taught at our schools and hopefully the younger generation will appreciate what a wonderful language it is and continue to use it.
There are two public houses, namely the Towy Bridge Inn on the bank of the river Tywi about a mile above the village and Royal Oak Inn located in the centre of the village.
The Camping and Caravanning Club have a lovely site on the bank of the river Tywi with wonderful views of the valley.
Rhandirmwyn and the upper Tywi valley has an abundance of wildlife, including red squirrels, (www.welshwildlife.org/redsquirrelproject_en.link ) foxes, badgers and of course many wonderful birds. There is the Dinas bird reserve which is north of the village. Nearby at Cilycwm is the Cwm Rhaeadr project which has been developed for us to enjoy and appreciate the outdoor life. A cycleway and mountain bike course has been constructed for the more energetic but also an all ability access trail has been built for those who have physical disabilities. This is a well thought out project and is worth a visit, something for all the family and set in beautiful scenery.
Rhandirmwyn is within the Cambrian Mountain Range and at present moves are afoot to have this area designated as an, Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The Cambrian Mountain Society has been set up to promote this project. This issue could have been resolved 30 years ago.
It is sad that such a beautiful area has to go to such lengths to try and obtain this status when the facts speak for themselves. The story has been a long one and dates back to 1965 when the National Parks Commission decided that the Cambrian Mountains should be Britain’s eleventh National Park. In 1972 the Countryside Commission made a National Park (Designation) Order for confirmation by the Secretary of State for Wales. In making the Order the Commission considered the landscape to be of (UK) national significance.
“…….cut by deep wooded valleys and gorges, their rolling moor lands are colourful at all seasons and are one of Britain’s loveliest and most attractive countrysides….. attracting discerning visitors in increasing numbers who appreciate that this ‘spirit of Wales’ is the equal in beauty of many existing national parks.”
The Order was opposed by most of the affected local authorities and by farmers and in 1973 the then Secretary of State for Wales, Peter Thomas announced his decision not to confirm the Order. Since that time effectively the Cambrian Mountains have been ignored ….. one of the finest landscapes in England and Wales undeniably worthy of National Park status, and yet completely unrecognised and unprotected, on the whim of a politician.
For more information please click on Cambrian Mountains to visit the Society’s website. Hopefully on this occasion the Society will be successful.
Why not join them and get involved in the campaign. (www.cambrian-mountains.co.uk)
Here are extracts from one of Jim Perrin’s books called, ‘Travels with The Flea and other eccentric journeys.’ Please do not be put off by the title. ‘The Flea,’ was in fact his dog. It is a wonderful read and relates to his climbing and travelling experiences all over the world, including Rhandirmwyn.
He says……‘There are many places in Wales of which I am fond, all of them entrancing in their different ways and at their proper seasons. But if I were asked by a stranger to this loveliest of all countries which place is the most beautiful, then I would tell of the pleasure in walking up the Afon Doethie on a fine day in the high spring of May or June when hawthorn blossom beacons the hillsides and bluebells shimmer like a low flame amongst the woods.’
He then warns us of possible future developments in our beautiful valley…..’It’s reached from Rhandirmwyn by walking up towards the new reservoir of Llyn Brianne, the disfigured hand-shape of which grasped too much of Wales’ beauty when it drowned the infant streams of Camddwr and Craflwyn, Tywi and Nant Gwrach. Those culpable surveyors looked, no doubt, at the adjacent valleys of the Doethie and the Pysgotwr, and I don’t for a moment disbelieve that they are capable of looking there again (at Blaen Doethie currently there are plans to install a huge wind-farm development, which would be desecration here).
Travels with The Flea. (2002) ISBN. 1-903238-36-6
Jim Perrin has long been recognised as the finest of British mountaineering and outdoor writers, with regular, outstanding features in the Daily Telegraph, Climber and The Great Outdoor.
He gets his joy and expresses it like a poet, from solitude and nature.’ - The Observer
Our countryside is constantly under threat and who knows what the future holds for our beautiful valley. Hopefully the status of, ‘Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty’ would help prevent further developments. Only time will tell.
Alun Jones
Alun Jones