Community

Former Cardi Bach railway line potentially to become walking and cycling path

Published

3 years ago

December 19, 2023

PEMBROKESHIRE and Carmarthenshire County Councils have organised an engagement event about transforming the disused Cardi Bach railway line into a new walking and cycling route.
Both local authorities have been collaborating with Sustrans Cymru, the charity making it easier for everyone to walk, wheel, and cycle, to study the disused route with the aim of building a new, shared-use walking and cycling path.

The long-term aim is for the path to connect Cardigan in the north to Whitland in the south, creating a traffic-free route for locals and tourists to use.

Aoife Blight, Project Manager for Sustrans Cymru said, “We see so much potential for reconnecting communities along this line.
“We know from our visits to the area how much the line has meant to people in the past and would love to see the route bustling with people travelling actively to visit their friends and family.
“We hope the route could one day connect into the wider sustainable transport network too”.

Sustrans Cymru, on behalf of the councils, is now seeking feedback from the people that live, work, and travel in the area who could benefit from the new route.

Sustrans Cymru are currently focusing on sections of the route between Crymych and Llanfyrnach in Pembrokeshire, and Glandwr to Llanglydwen in Carmarthenshire, for their initial feasibility studies.

The scheme aims to make it easier for people to choose walking, wheeling, or cycling to get to local services, and to directly connect communities along the route that have been disconnected since the railway’s closure.

This project is made possible by the Active Travel Fund, which is a Welsh Government fund that supports Welsh local authorities to develop, promote, and support active travel – walking, wheeling, and cycling – schemes in their area.

More information on the fund is available here: https://www.gov.wales/active-travel-fund-guidance-applicants-2023-2024-html .

A public drop-in session will be held on 16th January at the main hall in Ysgol Bro Preseli from 2.30pm to 4.30pm and 5.30pm to 7.30pm.

The session will include a short presentation by Sustrans Cymru’s project staff on the project to date.
Councillor Rhys Sinnet said “This is an opportunity for the community to have updates from our consultants Sustrans with regard to this important project.
“The Cardi Bach walking and cycling route, which we hope will be a real asset to the area, will provide a route which will connect local communities and encourage tourists to visit, helping to boost the economy of the region.”

Members of the public will also have the opportunity to meet with the project team, ask questions, and provide feedback on the proposed route.

Councillor Shon Rees said “We look forward to welcoming people to this event.
“We hope the community will give us their ideas and memories of the Cardi Bach which, through this initiative, can become a well-loved route for the community again.
“As a cycling and walking route it will allow for journeys to be made in a sustainable manner which is good for the environment and the health of users.
“It has the potential to be a high-quality route and an attraction to visitors to the north of both Pembrokeshire and Carmarthenshire.
“The Cardi Bach was and still is such a large part of the village of Crymych and we are fully committed to open this up for everyone to enjoy.”

Pembrokeshire and Carmarthenshire Councils are committed to promoting more active travel and sustainable travel options in the region, and this consultation is an important step towards achieving this goal.

Paper copies, easy read, or large print versions of consultation materials can be obtained by contacting Sustrans Cymru via email [email protected]

Community

Bongo Clive brings rhythm and smiles to VC Gallery celebration

Published

14 hours ago

June 20, 2026

Tom Sinclair

LEARNING DISABILITY WEEK MARKED WITH MUSIC, LAUGHTER AND INCLUSION IN PEMBROKE DOCK

THE VC GALLERY in Pembroke Dock was filled with music, laughter and energy as visitors came together to celebrate Learning Disability Week.

The event saw popular entertainer Bongo Clive lead a lively session of singing, drumming and participation, with those attending joining in throughout the day.

The gallery said the session had created a joyful atmosphere, with music helping to bring people together and celebrate inclusion, creativity and wellbeing.

A spokesperson for The VC Gallery said: “The smiles said it all. A huge thank you to Bongo Clive for bringing your incredible energy, enthusiasm and positivity to The VC today. You certainly had everyone moving to the beat.”

Learning Disability Week celebrates inclusion and the abilities, creativity and individuality of people with learning disabilities.

The Pembroke Dock event highlighted the role of community spaces such as The VC Gallery in supporting wellbeing, friendship and confidence through shared creative activities.

Community

Sir Karl Jenkins named Eisteddfod President for 2026

Published

15 hours ago

June 20, 2026

Tom Sinclair

SIR KARL JENKINS has been named President of the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod for 2026.

The internationally acclaimed Welsh composer, one of the world’s most performed living composers, will take on the role as the festival prepares to welcome performers, competitors and visitors from across the globe.

Sir Karl is best known for works including The Armed Man: A Mass for Peace, Adiemus and Requiem.

His appointment comes in a landmark year after The Armed Man: A Mass for Peace was voted the most popular work in the Classic FM Hall of Fame 2026.

Opening night return

Sir Karl’s presidential year will begin with the opening night concert, Uniting Nations: One World, on Tuesday, July 7.

The concert had been due to take place in 2025 but was postponed, causing disappointment for volunteers, performers and audience members who had travelled from across the UK and overseas.

The Eisteddfod has now brought the event back with support from the Arts Council of Wales.

Sir Karl said: “I’m delighted to be returning to the Llangollen Festival this year and especially honoured to do so in the role of President.

“Llangollen is always a very special place to be, with its unique sense of community and international spirit.

“I’m greatly looking forward to conducting my most recent choral work, One World, particularly following the postponement of last year’s performance.

“It’s a piece that I feel reflects the very essence of the festival, bringing together outstanding musicians from across the globe to form one powerful collective voice.”

Global chorus

The evening will feature a full performance of One World, conducted by Sir Karl and performed by an international massed chorus made up of WorldChoir and NEW Voices, accompanied by the Llangollen International Orchestra.

The work blends Jenkins’ distinctive musical style with themes of humanity, compassion and environmental stewardship.

The concert will also include a complete staging of Peace Child: The Musical, which places young people at the heart of its message of peace and global citizenship.

Opening the evening will be the world premiere of Greeting the Dawn, a newly commissioned bilingual work by emerging Welsh composer Sam Buttler.

The piece was written for the 2026 Eisteddfod through the Harmony Without Borders initiative, continuing Llangollen’s tradition of supporting new talent and giving Welsh composers an international platform.

‘Great cultural ambassador’

John Gambles, Chair of the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod, said: “We are absolutely delighted that Sir Karl Jenkins has agreed to serve as President of the Eisteddfod for 2026.

“Few musicians have done more to promote the values of peace, friendship and international understanding that lie at the heart of our festival.

“Sir Karl is one of Wales’s greatest cultural ambassadors and his music has inspired audiences across every continent.

“The fact that The Armed Man has just been voted the nation’s favourite classical work is a testament not only to his extraordinary talent, but also to the universal appeal of the messages of peace, hope and humanity that run through so much of his music.”

Mr Gambles added: “The postponement of One World last year was heartbreaking for everyone involved.

“We knew how much the concert meant to audiences, performers and volunteers alike, and we were determined to find a way to bring it back.

“Thanks to the support of the Arts Council of Wales, we can now finally give this extraordinary concert the audience it deserves.

“With Sir Karl as our President, the return of One World, the world premiere of a major new Welsh composition and the powerful message of Peace Child, this promises to be one of the most memorable and significant opening nights in the Eisteddfod’s history.”

Festival programme

The Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod returns for its 79th year on Tuesday, July 7.

This year’s programme includes performances from Michael Ball, Emeli Sandé with the Absolute Orchestra, Uniting Nations: One World featuring Sir Karl Jenkins, and the Choir of the World competition.

Thousands of competitors from around the world will also take part in the daytime programme, with the Parade of Nations returning on Friday, July 10.

Tickets are on sale now, with prices starting from £33.

Further information is available at llangollen.net.

Community

Lord Rhys emerges from the mist in St Davids

Published

17 hours ago

June 20, 2026

Tom Sinclair

Giant puppet begins historic journey marking 850 years since the first Eisteddfod

MIST swirled around St Davids Cathedral on Friday evening as a giant Lord Rhys puppet emerged from the fog to begin a journey celebrating 850 years since the first recorded Eisteddfod.

Accompanied by traditional musicians and followed by crowds of spectators, the towering figure cut an imposing sight against the backdrop of the ancient cathedral.

The procession marked the start of Taith yr Arglwydd Rhys (The Journey of Lord Rhys), a cultural pilgrimage retracing the legacy of the Welsh prince whose gathering of poets and musicians at Cardigan Castle in 1176 is widely regarded as the first recorded Eisteddfod.

As fog drifted across the city and church towers faded into the background, the scene felt more like a chapter from Welsh folklore than a modern-day celebration.

The giant puppet, accompanied by fellow performers and musicians, travelled from St Davids Cathedral to Oriel y Parc before beginning a wider journey through west Wales.

The travelling celebration will visit communities across Pembrokeshire and Ceredigion before culminating in Cardigan, where Lord Rhys originally staged his famous cultural gathering eight and a half centuries ago.

Video and photographs shared by DrifterStDavids captured the remarkable atmosphere, with many describing the spectacle as one of the most memorable cultural events seen in St Davids for years.

Photo caption: Lord Rhys emerges from the mist outside St Davids Cathedral as celebrations begin to mark the 850th anniversary of the first recorded Eisteddfod

(Pic: SmallWorld – Video: Drifter St Davids)