Kymer's Quay and Canal, Kidwelly.

 Today, standing high above the Gwendraeth Fach, the stone ramparts of Kidwelly Quay resemble a medieval castle, proudly guarding the town against maritime invaders. Yet in the 1950s everything lay in ruins. The stonework had crumbled away, the dock had filled in and the canal emptied of water. The whole place was a  fly-tippers dream. Many came from miles around as it was their location of choice for dumping their old fridges, bedsteads and worn-out tyres. It seemed a tragic end to an enterprise that had such a long and proud history. It dated back to 1766 when Thomas Kymer wanted to find a more efficient way of bringing  coal to the coast from his collieries inland. It survived the tribulations of a silting river and competition from Pembrey, but the last ship docked here in 1920 and so began its long and ruinous decline.

Thankfully in the late 1980s, somebody realised its potential, and had the foresight to see and understand what could still be offered to the community and visitors alike.  The dock was cleared of rubbish, the walls of the Quay have been repaired, and the canal with its towpaths and bridges all tastefully restored.

Kidwelly Quay and Kymer's canal have been reincarnated as a premier wildlife haven, a tribute to Kidwelly's industrial past and one of the nicest waterside walks in Carmarthenshire.