River Gwendraeth facts for kids

The River Gwendraeth (which means Afon Gwendraeth in Welsh) is a river found in Carmarthenshire, a county in West Wales. It's a special river because it has two main parts that meet up before flowing into the sea.

The two parts of the Gwendraeth river are called the Gwendraeth Fawr and the Gwendraeth Fach. They both flow into Carmarthen Bay.

The Two Branches of the Gwendraeth River

The River Gwendraeth is made up of two main branches. These two parts flow almost side-by-side until they join together near the sea.

Gwendraeth Fawr: The "Large" River

The Gwendraeth Fawr means "large Gwendraeth" in English. But, it's actually the smaller of the two branches! It starts from springs (natural water sources) north of Cross Hands. One of these springs is in the Llyn Llech Owain Country Park.

As it flows, the Gwendraeth Fawr goes past the Mynydd Mawr Woodland Park. It then travels through towns like Pontyberem, Pont Henri, and Pontyates. Finally, it passes south of Kidwelly before reaching the wide river mouth, called an estuary.

Gwendraeth Fach: The "Small" River

The Gwendraeth Fach means "small Gwendraeth" in Welsh. This branch flows a bit further north than the Fawr. Its source is about 4 miles north of Cross Hands, near a place called Penrhiwgoch.

The Gwendraeth Fach flows under the A48 road. It then goes south-west, passing by Llanddarog, Cwmisfael, and Llangyndeyrn. After that, it turns south through Mynyddygarreg. This branch flows right through the town of Kidwelly before reaching the estuary, west of the town.

What the River Valleys are Like

The areas around both rivers are a mix of different landscapes. You'll find communities that were once important for coal mining. There's also lots of green, farming land in Carmarthenshire.

History of the Gwendraeth and Coal

For a long time, the Gwendraeth rivers were important for moving coal.

Thomas Kymer's Canal

Back in 1768, a man named Thomas Kymer built a canal. This canal was used to carry coal from mines near the Gwendraeth Fawr. The coal was taken to a place called Ythyn Frenig, near the Gwendraeth Fach. To build the canal, they even changed parts of the Gwendraeth Fawr's path!

This canal later became part of the Kidwelly and Llanelly Canal. Even after railways took over for transport, coal was still sent out by boat from this area. Small ships called coasters carried coal to places like Laugharne, Carmarthen, St Clears, and Llansteffan. The last recorded trip carrying coal by boat was in the early 1920s.

Places to See Near the Gwendraeth

The Gwendraeth estuary is a beautiful area with several interesting spots.

Kidwelly Castle

One of the most famous landmarks is Kidwelly Castle. This amazing old castle sits high above the estuary of the Gwendraeth Fach. It's a great place to visit and imagine life in the past!

The Wider Estuary

The Gwendraeth estuary gets very wide as it gets closer to the sea. It then joins with the mouths of two other rivers, the River Tywi and the River Taf. Together, they form a large, three-branched estuary.

Sands and Shipwrecks

To the south of the estuary, you'll find the wide, flat sands of Cefn Sidan and Pembrey. Across the estuary, on the banks of the River Taf, is the town of Laugharne. This town is famous for its connection to the well-known Welsh writer, Dylan Thomas.

The SV Paul is one of many old shipwrecks found near the Gwendraeth and the Cefn Sidan sands. These wrecks tell stories of the area's maritime past.

The two points that mark the mouth of the Gwendraeth are Salmon Point Scar on the north side and Tywyn Point on the south side.

Images for kids

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  The SV Paul on the Gwendraeth in 1925