"Even after 14 years of living in Wales I never cease to be surprised by Llandrindod Wells and this is an excellent opportunity to sing its praises! As a town, its unique and varied shops provide all the necessities I need - from soup to nuts and furnishings & fabrics to computers - plus those really special treats and gifts for celebrations and holidays.
Walking is a great way to see the town centre and I enjoy this is in all weathers. There is plenty of public parking and pavements are wide and well-maintained with public amenities (pay phones, post boxes and toilets), green spaces and parks filled with year-round blooms & plantings - making the journey from point a to point b a pleasure.
There are so many lovely spots with benches to rest and contemplate the green and flowery views, to admire public statues and sculptures as well as the preserved Victorian architecture. I love listening to a summer musical performance from the Temple Park gardens bandstand and step back into time during the annual Victorian Festival.
Llandrindod Wells is also an area of natural beauty and endless countryside pursuits. It even boasts its own lake (not only for angling but also the starting point of many national car, bike and cycle rallies) and of course the world-famous spa (medicinal) waters.
My favourite place is the Rock Park, only a stone's throw from the bustling town centre. It feels like a small slice of my native Northern California relocated to a surround of gently rolling Welsh hillside. It is a steep woody area criss-crossed with pathways and bridges offering picturesque views of the Arlis Brook as it tumbles and thunders its way over the rocks, This brook can be followed downstream on the nature trail until it meets the River Ithon and nearby Lovers' Leap.
The Rock Park itself contains a wide variety of plants (including winter snowdrops and spring daffodils & primroses) and some very impressive rhododendrons (originally introduced to the area in the 1870s).
However my favourite is the large Wellington (a Sequoia/Redwood) tree near the stone bridge, which is said to be about 170 years old. It is about 70 ft. tall with a girth of about 4 ft. Some of the Redwoods in California are over 2000 years old with girths of up to 80 ft. and heights of over 300 ft. - so this one is still a baby by comparison!
The grey squirrels, who have now completely replaced the red squirrels are very amusing and tame taking nuts offered by hand and the birdsong on a summers day (blue-tits, robins, sparrows, finches, magpies and more) can be a riot of melodic sound.
To sit under the covered courtyard of the Edwardian Restaurant after a long nature walk, sipping hot chocolate or tea, enjoying the sound of the water; song of the birds; antics of the squirrels; and scent of the Redwood and other plants and flowers is an fine way to pass a lazy afternoon whatever the season in Llandrindod Wells."
Written by Pat Welch.
your comments
Rob Edwards Sheffield
Its Christmas Eve and as the wind-down at work started in Yorkshire some days ago I decided to look at web sites relaying information about The Dod. My fondness for the town and people has not faltered for the many years since I left. Both our sons were born in Sheffield but with names like Rhys and Nefyn, Welsh rugby shirts being more than one birthday or Christmas present, they are constantly reminded that although they live in the land of steel, their souls belong to Mid Wales. Llandod R.F.C. keeps me well informed on local gossip and the regular meet ups with them on tour reinforce a bond. Just some months ago I met them and went to Galway on tour. There we were met by Phil and Mo Edwards, former owners of The Commodore Hotel. Phil is also quick to tell tell you that first and foremost he is a Radnor Boy. Long may ex pats of Llandrindod stay in touch.
Sat Dec 27 16:41:09 2008
Bess Llandrindod
Pat's letter is dated now, things have changed...
Thu Feb 21 16:39:49 2008
Sue Contestabile
Justin Baird-Murray's mention about the old Metropole open air swimming pool bought back lots of fond memories. I learned to swim in the Hotel Metropole swimming pool when I was about five years old. Later on in my teens I would spend all day there, loved the summer days at the pool sitting out sun bathing, and swimming, as did all of my friends we would meet up there, even if it was raining we would swim, we would be there till kicking out time at six if I remember rightly? Whole families would turn up for the day and have picnics, sun bathing, and swimming. I remember Lynn Jones was on the gate taking the money for entry to the pool, he was also the life guard, an exultant swimmer. We had so much fun there in the 60's floating about on the pool on inner tubes from tractor tires. Burt Davies pool care taker kept the pool clean and tidy, and would have a swim now and then, also another good swimmer was Burt, the kids loved Burt a kind gentle man, and good at his job. Each year there was a swimming gala with prizes held at the Metropole pool I looked forward to that. Ah! Life seemed so much easier then huh... If the Baird-Murray family are reading this, why not ask people of their memories of the old our door Metropole swimming pool it would be a great idea.
Mon Jul 30 10:29:18 2007
Justin Baird-Murray from Llandrindod Wells
Those of you who mentioned the Metropole might be interested to hear what has happened to the Outdoor Pool. Like you I grew up swimming in the pool during the 70's and early 80's. However by the mid 80's it appeal had waned and in 1988 a new indoor pool was created in its place. This has just had a further development with the addition of gym, sauna etc.
Wed Jun 13 15:28:58 2007
John Evans, New York
I really enjoyed Pat's e-mail. I went to Llandrindod High School 1970 - 75 and remember swimming at the Metropole as well. I also would like to connect with people who went there.
Mon Feb 26 12:31:59 2007
John Evans, New York
I really enjoyed Pat's e-mail. I went to Llandrindod High School 1970 - 75 and remember swimming at the Metropole as well. I also would like to connect with people who went there.
Mon Feb 26 10:15:35 2007
Lyn Jones, Vancouver
I attended the grammar school from 1961-1967 and would enjoy getting hooked up with any one else who spent some time there.
Mon Jan 15 10:11:09 2007
Gillian Hanks (nee Bush), Lake Geneva, Wisconsin,
I went to Llandod's Grammar School from 1960 until 1963 having to take the school bus from Rhayader. I remember that the Hotel Metropol was the first swimming pool that I'd ever seen. I learned to swim in the rivers around Llandovery and Rhayader. Now my swimming is done in lovely Lake Geneva in southern Wisconsin.
Tue Aug 8 09:48:29 2006
Liz Keefe (nee Jones) Newfoundland,canada
I went to the Grammar School in Lland'od from 1961 to 1970. We travelled by coach from Glasbury to school every morning. I enjoyed school very much not that it showed in my marks!! We used to go swimming in the outdoor pool at the Hotel Metropol for our gym lesons. We had our end of school 'dance' at the Rock Park hotel. Lland'od was a clean town as I recall and the residents were always friendly. My Mum used to tell me stories of how she used to travel to the Grammar School by train in her day, on a Monday, stay all week in a boarding house and return to Glasbury on Friday evenings.
Some of my relations on my Mum's side still live there and some are buried in the cemetary there. Mum's maiden name was Gladys Hope.
I hope to revisit Llandrindod Wells one day.
Tue Aug 16 11:13:41 2005
Chris Ottewell from Llandrindod Wells
I took early retirement some years ago due to sight loss and having spent my youth in Hay on Wye and Brecon, decided some three years ago to return to Wales. We settled on Llandrindod Wells for many reason but primarily because it offered all the things that a retired person would need such as shops, doctors, hospital and public transport. The latter is important because of my inability to drive. I now belong to a group of volunteers who spend two Thursdays a month ensuring that the public footpaths are kept open and gates, styles and bridges are kept in good repair. We are a group of some ten to fifteen people in Llandrindod but are often asked to travel out of the area to maintain access to the countryside. My blindness is not an issue as all those who I both walk and work with understand my needs and allow for my mistakes. I just felt that now my wife Joyce and I have neen here for three years, a big thank you to Llandrindod Wells and my working and walking friends needed to be said and published. Thank you all for everthing, Chris and Joyce Ottewell.
Many thanks for your message. We have a special section on volunteering in Mid Wales which you may find interesting. Perhaps you'd like to fill in our questionnaire about the work you do in and around Llandrindod Wells? More.... Best wishes, Mid Wales Web Team.
Tue Jun 28 19:39:23 2005
Anonymous
Its strange how its only after leaving your home town that the fondest memories survive - not unlike those long, hot summers you remember from when you were a child. Perhaps Pat's recollection was a true record of the past. These days, Llandrindod Wells is a slowly dying town with an ever increasing crime rate, or so it appears.
Bring back Pat's world.
Tue Mar 29 16:16:24 2005
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Born and brought up in California, Pat Welch lived in Llandrindod Wells for 14 years. She's now returned to the States where she wrote this article on what she loved about this small spa town in the heart of Wales. 
