Kidwelly

Kidwelly was once an industrial hub where roads, railways, a canal and a quay were used to transport coal and other materials out of the area. This walk looks at the Kymer Canal, an old railway line, heritage features around Kidwelly and of course the remarkable Kidwelly Castle.

Route detail

Distance: 3.9 miles or 6.3 kilmetres
Start location: Junction of Bridge Street and Station Road in Kidwelly
Start Grid Ref: SN 40742 06735
Start What 3 Words: dads.estimates.sprint

Transport to the start

Parking
Parking at Kidwelly, on Station Road or at Glan-yr-Afon.

Bus
Daily bus services, except Sundays, link Kidwelly with Carmarthen, Llanelli and Swansea.

Train
Daily train services to Kidwelly from Cardiff and Swansea on the South Wales Mainline, as well as services from Carmarthen on the West Wales Line.

Map and GPX link

The circular route is marked in dark pink in the map image below. The purple flags show the start and finish point. View the route and download GPX link 'Kidwelly'

Detailed Route Description

1. Start in the middle of Kidwelly at the junction of Bridge Street and Station Road, close to bus stops. If arriving by car, there is a small car park just off Station Road, otherwise use the car park at Glan-yr-Afon and walk down Bridge Street to reach Station Road. The Wales Coast Path follows the road, but soon turns right along another road called Hillfield Villas. Follow it past a school, fire station, Gwenllian Centre and Anthony’s Hotel to reach Kidwelly Railway Station, which can also be used as a starting point.

2. Walk across the level crossing and continue along Quay Road. Turn right at a road junction as signposted for the Wales Coast Path, passing a sewage works to reach a small car park and a big noticeboard offering local information. The stone-built Kidwelly Quay was constructed here in 1768 by Thomas Kymer, along with one of the earliest industrial canals that allowed coal to be transported to the coast from nearby collieries. A short circular walk is available that offers views over the nearby saltmarshes and tidal channels, otherwise follow the Kymer Canal directly inland as signposted for the Wales Coast Path.

3. Turn left to cross a stone bridge then turn right to continue following the canal. Pass a footbridge, or maybe cross over it to see the extensive saltmarshes beyond, leading the eye to a forest at Pembrey, then cross back to continue alongside the canal. Pass another footbridge, or step onto it to get a good look at the old canal from above, as the banks are densely vegetated and it is difficult to see the water. The path suddenly turns right to go through a small gate, where a railway line slices through the canal. Follow the path alongside a field and climb a little to go through a kissing gate. Turn left to cross a bridge over the railway and walk past Caernewydd Farm to reach a road.

4. The Wales Coast Path turns right along the road, but turn left instead, as if following the road back into Kidwelly. The road crosses the old canal and a disused railway line, as explained by a roadside notice. Turn right before reaching a bus shelter, as if following a minor road, but walk up a path to the left of it. This reveals the course of an old railway line, now available as a footpath. It is largely flanked by bushes and trees, forming a wildlife corridor past the suburbs of Kidwelly. Go under a stone arch that carries Monksford Street across the old railway line. Later, pass a gate and keep walking straight ahead along a dirt road, Stockwell Lane, that follows the course of the old railway. Go through a gate to reach the busy A484 road, facing Waungadog Farm. Don’t cross the road, but turn left past concrete bollards to walk down an old, traffic-free tarmac road.

5. The road runs gently downhill and uphill, reaching the suburb of Gwendraeth Town. Turn left to follow Priory Street back into Kidwelly. Catch a couple of glimpses of Kidwelly Castle to the right, seen before and after passing a school. A mini roundabout is reached at the end of Priory Street and a noticeboard displays photographs of what nearby old houses looked like a few decades ago. Pass the Plough & Harrow pub to follow the one-way Lady Street onwards, also passing a Victorian post-box. Pass St Mary’s Church, also known as the Priory Church. A church was founded in 1114 but burnt down over a century later. A Benedictine priory was built on the site around 1320. The building is large for a parish church and it has an interesting broach spire, where the square base changes to an octagonal shape with increasing height.

6. Walk through the churchyard to reach the junction of Bridge Street and Station Road, otherwise walk to the end of the road and turn right to reach the junction. The walk could finish here, but it is well worth visiting Kidwelly Castle, first walking along Bridge Street and crossing the bridge over a tidal river, the Gwendraeth Fach. Turn right along a tarmac riverside path as signposted for the castle. Pass the Welsh Antiques building, go through a kissing gate and follow a narrow tarmac path onwards. Cross a footbridge below the imposing walls of Kidwelly Castle and continue along a narrow unsurfaced riverside path.

7. Follow the path up a wooded slope, go through a kissing gate and turn left along a quiet road. At the end of the road, keep left to follow a path through a low archway in a thick stone wall. Turn left along Castle Road, reaching the entrance to Kidwelly Castle. Built early in the 12th century by the Normans, the castle changed hands a few times, but in its final form, as a ‘castle within a castle’ it was almost impregnable.

8. Walk down Castle Street, passing through a formidable gatehouse, where the Gatehouse Coffee Bar and bus shelters stand outside the walls. Turn left down into town along Bridge Street. If you parked at the Glan-yr-Afon car park, then turn right to return to it. Even if you didn’t park there, it is worth entering the car park to see the ruins of the Old Slaughterhouse. Also note the Trinity English Methodist Church, built in the 19th century by Jacob Chivers, as he was unable to worship in Welsh. He owned a tinplate works and brought a water supply to the town. Cross the bridge to return to the bus stops near the junction of Bridge Street and Station Road, or turn right if you arrived by train and wish to return to Kidwelly Railway Station.