Page 3 - Heart of Wales Make and Trade

Throughout the journey, you will be treated to panoramic views including
the Llwchwr Estuary near Llanelli, the meandering River Tywi, a multitude of
red kites, sweeping vistas of Mynydd Epynt near Llanwrtyd, the Radnor Forest
between Llandrindod Wells and Knighton, and the remote borderlands of the
English Marches.
The railway began as a series of largely disconnected tracks built during the
railway boom of the mid-nineteenth century, primarily to meet the freight needs
of the rural population. As ‘taking the waters’ became fashionable in the late
Victorian era, the railway proved invaluable in bringing visitors to the four spa
towns along the line - the ‘Four Wells’. The rapid growth of these towns, driven
by the railway, is still evident today.
Somehow, the railway survived the brutal Beeching cuts of the 1960s. Popular
opinion suggests this was because the line passed through four marginal
constituencies during a period of hung parliaments and closely fought elections.
Thankfully, it endured. Today, the railway is a vital part of local life - socially and
economically - connecting people and supporting tourism in a truly beautiful
part of the country. It is one of those journeys that is a travel experience to be
savoured, rather than a means to get to the next destination.
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© Dominic Vacher