Local Information

Llandeilo has been the centre of the agricultural community for more than a thousand years, and people still flock here from miles around. You may find the Llandeilo experience a little old fashioned. Actually, we’re rather proud of the fact.

For one thing, people stop and talk to each other on the street. It may seem strange at first to big city-dwellers, but you soon get used to people saying “Hello” or “Shwmae” and taking time for a chat rather than rushing everywhere.

Shopping

Another unusual thing about Llandeilo is that most of the shops are run by their owners. The service is friendly and the staff know what they’re talking about. It’s a far cry from the faceless out-of-town retail parks and anonymous city-centre multiple outlets.

The specialist shops of Llandeilo remain firmly rooted in the twin traditions of quality and service. Knowledge of the product offered is something of a rarity these days, but in Llandeilo it is what makes shopping special.

Few other towns of its size can boast a range of specialist shops that includes ladies’ fashion, kitchenware, hardware, dressmaking, jewellers, art galleries, florists, furniture and fittings, antiques – plus a complete menu of food and drink outlets from traditional butchers and bakers to Italian delicatessen. In their quest to attract day trippers and weekenders, the shops are aided by a fine array of restaurants, hotels, pubs, cafes and takeaways, which serve up an excellent variety of local and international cuisine. We particularly recommend you try local specialities such as Tywi sewin and Welsh Black beef.

Llandeilo’s shopping services are backed up by high street banks (with cash points), building societies, travel, property, finance and insurance agencies. There’s an outdoor market every Friday, and around once a month you’ll find an Antiques Fair and auction. The agricultural mart is held on the last Saturday of the month in Ffairfach, just a walk across the old stone bridge.

On Friday mornings from 8am to 12.45pm there is a Country Market held in the Civic Hall in Crescent Road where you can buy home-made cakes, jams and pies, as well as locally grown seasonal produce, plants and herbs and knitwear and crafts. Freshly made tea and coffee is also available. Not to be missed!

Nightlife

Llandeilo has a terrific selection of friendly pubs offering great beer, food and bilingual conversation. Some offer live music for a variety of musical tastes – jazz, rock, folk and bluegrass, even big band sound – and this is seen at its best during Llandeilo’s Festivals.

The Community Festival in September has lots of live music all over town, spilling on to the streets. The Flower and Music Festival in early summer is more dignified, with top international artistes such as Jacqui Dankworth and Jamie Cullum in 2003. Local choirs and drama groups offer performances all year round.

Sport

Llandeilo RFC was a founder member of the Welsh Rugby Union back in 1880 and the rugby club is still flourishing today. The home games are at Cae William, which has its very own “Millennium Stadium” – a new stand, bar and changing rooms. The cricket team play here in the summer months, and the town also sustains a well-supported soccer team.

The squash club is situated on Carmarthen Road, by the Fire Station – there are 2 squash courts and a fitness area. The bowling green and pavilion are close by in Parc Le Conquet, along with the tennis courts, paddling pool, children’s play area and a recreation ground. The old Literary Institute building on Rhosmaen Street houses full-size snooker and billiard tables.
Since 1893 the Llandeilo Angling Association has provided high quality fishing, which has enticed anglers from around the world. When conditions are right, salmon fishing on the Tywi is second to none and even on summer days with low water the sea trout will provide exciting sport.

Finally there are ample opportunities for walking, climbing, bird-watching, horse riding, mountain-biking and pot-holing in the area, with the Brecon Beacons National Park offering a wide range of activities and the coast only an hour’s drive away.

Town Twinning

As you approach Llandeilo on the A40, you can’t fail to notice the large maritime buoy that marks the north-eastern entrance to the town. The buoy is the gift of the people of Le Conquet, a coastal town on the western tip of Brittany in France. The towns were twinned back in 1979, with the first Llandeilo group going to Le Conquet in 1980. The first Breton party made the return trip in 1981 to sign the Friendship Treaty, which you can see, written in Welsh, Breton, French and English, in the foyer of the Public Library. Since then an exchange visit takes place every year, one way or the other. If you should ever find yourself in Le Conquet, look out for the bright red British telephone box that stands in Place de Llandeilo – a gift from the Welsh.

Visit the Le Conquet Official website (opens in new window)

Llandeilo has an older twin town on the other side of the world. The Australian settlement of Llandilo (note the old spelling) was founded by Welsh emigrants to New South Wales in 1886 and still retains links with its “big brother” in Wales.

Clubs and Charities

Llandeilo people are incredibly generous and have a strong sense of community. There are active groups with interests from art to wildlife, and charity fund-raising committees covering arthritis, cancer, disabled drivers, etc. Churches and chapels offer Christian services in English or Welsh. We’ve tried to include as many organisations as possible here, but can’t put contact details unless we have permission.

Clubs and Charities list

Schools and out-of-school activities

Two county-run primary schools in Llandeilo itself offer first-class education from the ages of 3 to 11, and the bilingual secondary school for 11-18 year olds is just a mile away across the river in Ffairfach. There’s a private nursery offering full or part-time child-care, parent and toddler groups and an after-school kids’ club. Youth activities include Llandeilo Youth Club, Young Farmers’ Club, Girl Guides and youth sections in most of the sports clubs. Llandeilo Youth Club made a fun video about the town in Summer 2003, a kind of “whodunit” featuring many of the beauty spots, using professional help from a local TV Company and a grant from the Prince’s Trust.

Public Services

The public library in the main car park off Crescent Road houses a reference and loan collection, including CDs, DVDs and video rental, free use of computers with Internet access, photocopying and information on all county council services, and the Town Council minutes and other documents. The Community Education Centre is behind the primary schools (access via Heol-y-Garreg Las) and offers daytime and evening classes for adults in art and crafts, languages, computer skills, fitness and a range of other subjects. The Day Centre on Crescent Road provides social facilities and a hot lunch to older people, every weekday. The Job Centre on the corner of King Street/Rhosmaen Street can provide some information on Benefits too.

Meddygfa Teilo, the doctors’ surgery, houses a large medical practice with nurses, health visitors and visiting special services for blood tests, diabetes and chiropody. There are several private and one NHS dentist in town.

The Fire Station and Ambulance Station are side-by-side on Carmarthen Road, with the Police Station opposite.

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