River Cywyn

The River Cywyn winds through Carmarthenshire for about twenty-six kilometres. It rises in the hills halfway between Newcastle Emlyn and St Clears in mid-west Wales. After flowing south for a stretch, the river turns south-west and passes near Fancyfelin before joining the River Tâf near Llandeilo Abercywyn. The name Cywyn comes from the twelfth-century spelling ‘Couin’, meaning ‘plague’. Records suggest the river once marked the edge of a plague’s spread centuries ago. Its main tributary, Nant Cynnen, joins near Abernant after draining the surrounding slopes. Visitors can follow the river’s quiet course through farmland and woodland. The valley offers gentle walks beside clear streams and open meadows. At its mouth the waters mix with the Tâf, creating a peaceful spot where three parishes meet.