The Pilgrims Graves at St Michael's Church.

The pilgrim trail though Carmarthenshire and on to St. David's passes an old farmhouse on the banks of the river Cywyn below St. Clears, appropriately known as "Pilgrim's Rest". Fording the river would lead to the graveyard of the now ruined church of St. Michael's and to six, twelfth  century graves, reputedly belonging to travelers whose pilgrimage ended here, perhaps trying to cross the flooded river, and these are now evocatively known as the Pilgrim's Graves.

The Pilgrims Graves at St Michael's Church, near St. Clears.

The ruined church of St. Michael.

 St. Michael's church, Llanfihangel abercywyn, was abandoned in 1848 when it became isolated by the new A40 trunk road to St. Clears. A new St. Michael's church was then built 2 miles further north, alongside the new road. The original church however, is very old and was associated with the twelfth century Motte and Bailey castle that once stood nearby. The graves are likewise very old and are covered with early christian carvings and motifs. Although very important in their own right, it is now generally believed that the graves belonged to the great and good of the Norman castle rather than the more romantic notion of a tragedy on the pilgrim trail.

As a footnote, according to local tradition, should the graveyard ever be neglected, the parish would be visited by a plague of snakes. On a recent visit the graveyard was nicely trimmed so the parish should be OK for a while yet.