What a hot day – and a walk that I thought might not have much interest as we corrected our course by going northward again, now through villages that are signed off the A48 after the end of the M4. But it wasn’t unpleasant walking, just a bit too hot for 11.2 miles.
We were reluctant to leave The Mill at Glynhir, where Matt and Helen had looked after us so well, but dragged ourselves away by 10am to cross the fields to Llandybie, where the Co-op had no sandwiches because the fridge had broken down. So we bought sausage rolls instead before noticing a nice-looking bakers over the road.
After a few noisy minutes along a relatively busy road, we turned off up a shady track, up past the quarries that are part of the town’s industrial heritage, and then along very quiet minor roads. As the day progressed, the lanes got more hilly and less shady, so it was with relief that we found a cool quiet wood with a useful log pile to sit and eat the sausage rolls and various other bits of food that we’d accumulated (Corinna’s Father’s Day flapjacks were delicious).
Before long we could see Paxton’s Tower not far ahead, which is a landmark when driving along the A40 or A48, and we diverted to see it close up, but concluded it is probably more interesting from a distance. Google tells me it is an early 19c folly, built to commemorate Nelson, but the on-site information board was blank. The views were good, though the afternoon was filling with white haze, and we could see back where we’ve walked for the last three days or so. The Preselis didn’t look any closer than yesterday, hard to believe we can get to the foot of them in three days walking.
Coming down the hill into Llanarthne, today’s unexpected encounter was with two peacocks on the road. I was glad to reach our very smart but welcoming B&B, Llwyn Helyg, where we were given tea and cakes in a wonderful vaulted room, and enjoyed the Jacuzzi bath (without the laundry this time!). We ate at Wright’s Food Emporium, a welcome change from all the pub meals and well worth a return visit when we are not limited in what we can carry.
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