What’s going for it? I mean, how many of these idyllic little market towns do you have in Wales? It feels as if I’ve been bumping into them for a lifetime. You know the score: small as a cupcake and just as sweet. Gay, brightly painted main street; all healthfood stores and chartered surveyors, with the odd deli slipped in to keep you in your fancy ways. Bit of Georgian, a few sober, grey-stone Victorian gables. Romantic, astonishing countryside on tap (Brecon Beacons one way, Carmarthenshire the other). Then there’s the aristocratic pile on the outskirts, and heroic castle (Carreg Cennen; courtesy of Edward I, as ever) on the horizon. It rains a fair bit hereabouts, and this is the kind of tiny town Dylan Thomas might have been warmly but rudely satirical about, but today it seems a safe haven of ordinary beauty. I almost take them for granted, which Llandeilo can take as the highest Let’s move to… compliment there is.
The case against Out of the way, and small, as in a-couple-of-thousand-people-live-here-and-after-a-month-they’ll-all-know-what-you-have-for-breakfast small.
Well connected? Not really. Just four trains a day north-east to Llandovery (20 minutes), Llandrindod (80) and Shrewsbury (three hours); four a day south to Swansea (80 minutes) and Llanelli (40). By car: 40 minutes to Swansea and the Gower peninsula, 25 to Carmarthen, 50 to Brecon and Builth Wells.
Schools Bilingual at secondary level, Welsh or English speaking at primary. Primaries: Llandeilo CP is mostly “good”, says Estyn; Gymraeg Teilo Sant is, too, and Ffairfach is “good” with some “outstanding features”. Secondaries: Tre-Gib is “very good”, with many “outstanding features”.
Hang out at… Oh, the coffee at Barita; you can pick up excellent deli fare while you wait. The Angel and the Cawdor Arms keep you going, but there’s even better a short drive away at Valans, Llandybie.
Where to buy The petite centre has all the bright terraces and town houses you could wish for, all along its densely crushed streets. A little out, Carmarthen Road has good period and modern detacheds. No real places to avoid. Large detacheds, £350,000-£750,000. Detacheds, £220,000-£350,000. Semis, £130,000-£270,000. Terraces, £110,000-£180,000. Not a big rental market: a one-bedroom flat’s about £250pcm.
Bargain of the week Lovely three-bed terraced house, needs updating, great countryside views from the garden. £110,000 with bjpco.com.
From the streets
Sue Burger “The Dragon’s Garden fair trade shop in Rhosmaen Street is a treasure trove of beautiful things. Dinefwr Park, a National Trust property on the edge of town, is well worth visiting; and there’s fine food at the Ginhaus deli.”
Lesley Cresswell “The Heavenly chocolate shop makes incredible confections and ice-cream.”
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