Ammanford

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Around Carmarthenshire

Ammanford

After Llanelli and Carmarthen, Ammanford is the third largest town in the county of Carmarthenshire. Although the town has a mere 6,000 population it is one of several small towns and villages running almost continuously into each other from Cross Hands in the west to the Amman Valley in the east, making a conurbation of about 25,000. Despite this Ammanford and the immediate area is still semi-rural, with the Black Mountain foothills to the Brecon Beacons starting just a couple of miles north-east of Ammanford. The Black Mountain, along with the Betws Mountain to the south, provide miles and miles of lonely open moorland to either walk or drive through. Welsh is still commonly spoken on the streets of Ammanford and agriculture is still an important part of the local economy.

The M4 motorway passes five miles south of Ammanford, making access to the major towns of west Wales only a short drive away – Swansea, Carmarthen, Neath and Llanelli. And just a few miles from Swansea is the lovely Gower peninsular with some of the best beaches and cliff walks in the UK.

Seven miles north of Ammanford is the charming market town of Llandeilo, perched proudly above the lovely river Towy. Nearby beauty spots and places of interest are Dinefwr Park in Llandeilo, its grounds laid out by Capability Brown in 1775; the 13th century Carreg Cennen Castle in Trap, just five miles from Ammanford; the National Botanic Gardens in nearby Llanarthne; and the recently restored Aberglasney House and Gardens in Llangathen. Two miles from Ammanford at Glynhir is the highest waterfall in Carmarthenhire, tumbling 30 feet over a limestone outcrop on the river Loughor.

This former mining community acquired its name – Ammanford – in 1880 after a vote by local residents to change it from its original name of Cross Inn, the name of a coaching inn on a crossroads which soon became Ammanford square. There are plenty of shops in the town and the larger supermarkets and stores are easily accessible via the M4.

A comprehensive history of Ammanford can be found on www.ammanfordtown.org.uk

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