From the Whitland North road car park cross over and walk uphill on North road.
Croeswch y ffordd o faes parcio Heol y Gogledd, a cherdded i fyny’r heol.
Just opposite Dyffryn Taf school is the house where the world famous composer William Mathias was born. He created an anthem for the wedding of Prince Charles to Lady Diana Spencer. Look out for the plaque.
Yr ochr arall i Ysgol Dyffryn Taf mae’r tŷ lle ganwyd y cerddor byd-enwog William Mathias. Cyfansoddodd anthem ar gyfer priodas Y Tywysog Siarl a’r Fonesig Diana Spencer. Cofiwch edrych ar y garreg gofnodi.
Keep going up North Road, staying on the pavements. 50m after the bridge over the A40, the Abbey By-way trail is on the right.
Cerddwch ar y palmant i fyny Heol y Gogledd. 50m ar ôl croesi’r bont dros yr A40, mae llwybr Yr Abaty ar y dde.
You will be walking parallel to the Roman road, Via Julia, which was part excavated when the 1996 By-pass was constructed. This route was used by Pilgrims and Cattle Drovers in Centuries past.
Byddwch yn cerdded yn gyfochrog â’r heol Rufeinig, y Via Julia, a ddatguddiwyd yn rhannol wrth adeiladu’r ffordd osgoi yn 1996.
Ganrifoedd yn ôl, Pererinion a Phorthmyn a fyddai wedi tramwyo hon.
There are orchids, bluebells, lovely views and birdsong. In the woodland an old hidden ruin called Golden Gate cottage is said to be the exit of the tunnel from the Abbey Mansion.
Mae yma degeirian, clychau’r gog, golygfeydd a chân yr adar. Yn y coedtir mae murddun bwthyn Porth Aur (Golden Gate). Dywedir mai dyma geg y twnel o Blasdy’r Abaty.
Continue along this track for about a mile passing through countryside and some woodlands. The Abbey trail then turns sharp right (the left turn will take you uphill to Cwmfelin Boeth). Proceed to the apex of the hill by a house.
Ymlwybrwch am rhyw filltir trwy gefn gwlad a choedtir. Mae llwybr Yr Abaty yn troi yn sydyn i’r dde yma (bydd troi i’r chwith yn eich arwain i fyny at Gwmfelin Boeth). Ewch at y tŷ ar ben y bryn.
Nothing can be seen today but this is the site of a former Golden Gate which held religious significance for pilgrims and it is thought the act of walking through the gate symbolised spiritual renewal.
Nid oes olion gweladwy heddiw, ond dyma safle’r Porth Aur gynt, mangre o arwyddocad crefyddol i’r pererinion, a chredwyd bod cerdded trwy’r porth yn arwydd o adfywiad ysbrydol.
Continue downhill to the ford with a small footbridge and steps to cross over.
Cerddwch i lawr tuag at y rhyd, lle mae pont droed a grisiau i groesi.
This stream flowed into the fish ponds opposite the Abbey Mansion. The ponds were used by the Cistercian monks to keep their catch of fish fresh. This stream flows into the River Gronw and then joins the River Taf.
Arferai’r nant lifo i lynnoedd pysgod gyferbyn â Phlasdy’r Abaty. Defnyddiai’r mynachod Sistersaidd y llynnoedd i gadw eu helfa pysgod yn ffres. Mae’r nant yn llifo i afon Gronw cyn ymuno ac Afon Taf.
After the Ford the gravel trail will come to an end and meet the Abbey road.
Wedi croesi’r rhyd, mae’r llwybr cerrig yn gorffen ac yn arwain at ffordd Yr Abaty.
On the left are the ruins of the Abbey kitchens and monks living quarters now held in private ownership.
I’r chwith mae adfeilion ceginau Yr Abaty, a llety’r mynachod, sydd bellach yn eiddo preifat.
Turning left at the Abbey road, after 50m, is the site of the ruined Abbey Church open to
the public. C.1140
I’r chwith ymhen 50m mae adfail Eglwys yr Abaty, sy’n agored i’r cyhoedd, dyddiad tua 1140.
Return back to the Abbey road heading south. Pass the gothic Abbey Mansion on your left.
Dychwelwch i ffordd Yr Abaty a mynd i’r de. Ar y chwith mae Plasdy’r Abaty gothig.
Spot the unusual winged creatures on the gates of the Abbey Mansion. C.1847
Sylwch ar adenydd y creaduriaid ar gatiau’r Plasdy, tua 1847.
Spot the old stone stiles by the bridge over the river Gronw.
Sylwch ar y gamfa gerrig hynafol ger pont afon Gronw.
Continue over the River Gronw bridge and start to wind uphill. After approx. 150m there is a small public footpath “kissing gate” in the hedgerow on the right hand side.
Ewch dros bont y Gronw i fyny’r bryn. Tua 150m ymlaen mae “gat mochyn” yn y clawdd ar y dde.
Follow the track winding through the fields and through all the kissing gates for a good mile. This leads under the By-pass. Keep dogs on a lead if there are livestock in the field. Join Spring Gardens road, exiting through the Maes Abaty estate.
Dilynwch y llwybr troellog trwy’r caeau a’r “gatiau mochyn” am tua milltir. Byddwch yn mynd o dan y ffordd osgoi. Dylid cadw cŵn ar dennyn os oes anifeiliaid yn y cae. Ymunwch â Gerddi’r Ffynnon trwy fynd trwy ystad dai Maes Abaty.
Turn right downhill. Pass the Fishers pub and over the River Gronw and then past the Primary school. 100m past the Primary school turn right through large black gates into Parc Dr Owen.
Trowch i’r dde, heibio i dafarn Y Fishers, dros bont y Gronw ac heibio Ysgol Gynradd Llys Hywel. Ymhen 100m ewch i’r dde, trwy’r gatiau mawr du i Barc Dr Owen.
The Parc was given to the people of Whitland by Dr Owens family over half a century past and is maintained by the funds raised in the annual carnival.
Cyflwynwyd y Parc i drigolion Hendygwyn gan deulu Dr Owens dros hanner canrif yn ôl, ac mae’n cael ei gynnal gyda’r arian a godir yn y carnifal blynyddol.
Notable is a stone monolith erected in memory of local character Dr George Penn.
Mewn lle amlwg mae maen-hir i gofio’r cymeriad lleol unigryw Dr George Penn.
A concrete path leads up to the WWI Memorial Garden where there is a lovely view south and west from the seat. The sound of the River Gronw can be heard here.
Mae llwybr cadarn yn arwain at Ardd Goffa’r Rhyfel Byd 1af, a sedd i ymlacio ac edmygu’r olygfa, ac afon Gronw’n sisial gerllaw.
The big blue heritage seat was designed by local blacksmith Mr Peterson. The nine featured themes were inspired by children and reflect local culture.
Cynlluniwyd y sedd fawr las gan y gof lleol Mr Peterson. Mae’r naw thema a ysbrydolwyd gan blant yn adlewyrchu’r diwylliant lleol.
King Hywel Dda was famous for Welsh law making and codified the laws at Whitland circa 940AD at the old white house on the River Taf. There are dedicated interpretive gardens in the Town Centre open daily.
Cofir am y Brenin Hywel Dda am iddo gyfundrefnu cyfreithiau yn Hendygwyn tua 940 OC yn yr “hen dy gwyn ar Daf”. Mae Canolfan a Gardd Hywel Dda ynghanol y dref ar agor yn ddyddiol.
To complete the walk follow the tarmac path up the left hand side of the Parc turning to the left past the Bowling club and coming out by the North road car park.
I gwbwlhau’r daith, dilynwch y llwybr tarmac ar ochr chwith y Parc, troi i’r chwith ar ôl y Clwb Bowlio, a dod allan ger maes parcio Heol y Gogledd.
