At the end of the Swiss Valley Cycle Route in Cross Hands are the Art Deco Public Hall and cinema. The combination of the railway trail, architecture and local industrial history offers several concrete ways to explore the town: you can look at its architectural heritage as well as the history of mining and the railway.
Art Deco and industrial history
The present-day Cross Hands Public Hall was built in 1920, replacing the original building, in a distinctive Art Deco style. It is one of three buildings in this style in Wales. For anyone interested in architectural history, the hall offers a concrete, locally rooted point of interest.
Cross Hands developed around the former Cross Hands Colliery, which opened in 1869. New Cross Hands Colliery was the northernmost terminus of the Llanelly and Mynydd Mawr Railway. Opened in 1883, the railway connected the colliery to the coal-loading facilities at Mynydd Mawr at Llanelli Docks; it remained in operation until 1966. The site of the former New Cross Hands Colliery is now mostly built over. Together, the two collieries and the railway illustrate different chapters in local industrial history.
Along the railway trail
The Swiss Valley Cycle Route follows a disused railway line and is a walking and cycling route. It ends in Cross Hands beside the Art Deco Public Hall and cinema. The route is traffic-free for 98.2 percent of its length, so it is not entirely traffic-free. If having a fully traffic-free route is important to you, bear this distinction in mind when planning.
Mural and local lore
The Cross Hands mural on the side of Squires and Lane Hairdressers on Llandeilo Road depicts mining motifs, including the Mynydd Mawr Miners Lamp and a Marsh Fritillary butterfly. The artwork brings together a symbol of mining and a butterfly motif.
At Garreg Hollt, a short detour leads to a stone beside the Swiss Valley Track. According to local lore, Owain Glyndwr struck the stone with his sword. The stone gave Cross Hands its name; “Split Stone” is the translation. Here, a local story about the place name connects with the legend of the sword strike. Anyone interested in the history of the place name will find a concrete link between the route and local storytelling.
Cinema and nature trails
Cross Hands Cinema generally screens blockbusters and smaller films three times a week. Going to the cinema is therefore a standalone activity alongside the town’s historical attractions. If you are planning a visit, check the schedule for your preferred date.
Llyn Llech Owain Country Park complements the historical attractions with nature trails. Many paths are well surfaced and accessible to wheelchair users. The rare peat bog surrounding the lake is designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). The park therefore focuses on nature trails and a designated bog area, offering a different perspective from the mining and railway history of Cross Hands.
Discover more destinations: Ammanford, Upper Brynamman, St Clears, Llandovery, Pencader, Henllan Amgoed, Felindre, Brechfa.
For the broader travel guide: Carmarthenshire.
