Llandovery

Llandovery, cold, wet, blustery one day, perfect the next!

Our accommodation, at The Drovers B&B, has received our acknowledgement of the best to date. Sitting right on Market Square, it was purpose built in the late 1800's for a doctor & his family. For one hundred years the ground floor served as the local doctor's rooms. It was then a restaurant for ten years before the owners, Jill & Mike, converted it to a B&B. And they did it very well.

This morning we learnt Jill is the newly elected Mayor of Llandovery, so it explains why on arrival we were greeted as one might greet guests for a civic reception, that is, afternoon tea with silver service, fine china & linen napkins. A welcomed consideration at the end of an eight hour day.

I have claimed today for R&R & the opportunity to update my travel journal and photo logs. Following a late breakfast we went for an amble through the village & along the banks of the Rivers Bran & Towy. Six pubs, six cafes, a newsagent, a post office, a superette, two banks & two bakeries are supported by a population of three thousand residents. One bakery is aptly named 'Knead The Dough'!

Llandovery means 'the church among the three rivers', the Towy, Bran & Gwydderig.  It is on the gentle slopes of the upper Towy Valley. The town used to lie at the junction of three droving routes from Pembrokeshire, Carmarthenshire & Cardiganshire, hence, it was the assembly point for the drovers before they continued to the border and on to London. Each year more than 30 000 cattle were driven to the London markets. Llandovery continues to serve the local agricultural communities with weekly stock auctions.

Overlooking the town are the remnants of the twelfth century Norman Llandovery Castle. A recent addition was the stainless sculpture of Lord LLywelyn of Gruffydd-Fychan. A martyr for Wales' independence, Lord LLewelyn was publicly executed in 1401. The stainless steel monument looks out of place alongside that which is old.



For several weeks a year Llandovery is home to Prince Charles. He is well respected in the district, particularly for his role as patron to a number of charities as well as promoting & mentoring local businesses & industries. His scheduled July 5th visit is much talked about.

I loved the charm & ambience of the old town square, the narrow thoroughfares, the colourful cottages that stand on footpath's edge, the friendly locals, the slow pace of life. I imagine the town runs on Llandovery time. For today, I belong here.

An early pub meal was a satisfying end to a, much needed, restful day. I was unsure of the dialect. I think it was Inebriation! I couldn't understand a word, but the banter, laughter & merriment of the locals told me they were having a good time. Again we were put through a who, when, what, where, and why scrutiny. Something we have come to expect from the welcoming committee of small communities.