5k Run Felinfoel: Scenic Cwm Lliedi Reservoir Loop

Route Overview & Local Insights

Experience the tranquil beauty of Llanelli’s rural outskirts on this 5.2km loop starting from Felinfoel. This route offers a delightful blend of terrain, beginning on the well-maintained, paved surface of the Swiss Valley Trail before transitioning into more natural woodland paths. With a gentle ascent of 54m, it’s a relatively accessible run that feels like a hidden escape. You’ll circle the Cwm Lliedi Reservoir in a clockwise direction, enjoying shimmering water views and the shade of the forest. The return leg adds a touch of adventure as you fork left into the woods to follow the winding Afon Lliedi back toward the village, providing a refreshing mix of trail running and steady asphalt.

Felinfoel is rich in both industrial and cultural Welsh history, perhaps most famously known as the home of the Felinfoel Brewery—the oldest in Wales and the first in the UK to put beer into cans. As you run the Swiss Valley Trail, you are actually retracing the path of the old Great Western Railway line, which once hauled coal and tinplate through these lush valleys. The Cwm Lliedi Reservoirs themselves were constructed in the late 19th and early 20th centuries to provide water for the burgeoning local industries. Today, the area has been reclaimed by nature, serving as a peaceful sanctuary for local runners and wildlife, offering a glimpse into the heart of the Gwendraeth Valley's heritage.