To approach Llandeilo via the A40 from Carmarthen means missing the iconic pastel-coloured cottages meandering up the hill from the bridge over the River Tywi.
But perhaps the drive up the Tywi valley instead- where the river snakes its way towards Carmarthen in lazy looping S-bends almost meeting the road in places - is a more impressive route towards what is now a well-established destination town. On a day which started wet but promises sun later, the blue-grey peaks of the foothills of the western Brecon Beacons rise up in the background and the jagged ruins of Dryslwyn Castle pierce through the haze in the foreground.
It feels like you're heading into the deep heart of Carmarthenshire, a land steeped in history, legends and mystery. Llandeilo - a collection of quaint and traditional buildings so typical of a Welsh market town - is fast becoming a rural hub for independent shops, antiques and interiors, and particularly good coffee.
