In a bizarre twist of fate, we suddenly have a (gasp!) outdoor activity aside from Kidwelly Castle in the Llanelli-Carmarthen area. How is it possible? No-one knows. However, if you wish, you can now go paddleboarding, kayaking or rowboating on the Swiss Valley lower reservoir, and it's very pleasant indeed.
There's nothing quite like paddling away on the water and pretending you're in 'The Wind In The Willows' or 'Three Men In A Boat', or even 'To Say Nothing Of The Dog'. Oh, to be drifting along, thinking of luncheons or making it to the next inn... Except, that's not really going to be the case on a reservoir in the twenty-first century! It's still a very pleasant experience, and one which needs to be advertised better as it was very quiet for a day during the school holidays. Surely there must be more paddlers out there? Come on, be brave, people!
It's strange to think how few things there are in this immediate area. There is the aforementioned castle, which is always nice, and then... Well, it's strange. It might be partly due to the local apathy, where no-one ever seems to turn out for anything. We need more things which should appeal to locals and tourists alike. We could convert the old railway into a mine train experience... And it's not too late to make up the legend of the Swiss Valley monster, last seen menacing seagulls with a tickling stick and using popup speed cameras to make up its income in the quiet weeks.
Anyone for a paddle? Off to the reservoir with you! It's a pretty place, with those trees and the tranquil waters, and the oddly absent comedic pirates and sharks. It's nice to remember how to row, get caught up in trees, and be held hostage by fishermen intent on ransoming you for as many free maths lessons as can be unreasonably extorted.
Go ahead, have some watery fun, and maybe a coffee and a piece of cake. Go and mess about on the water.
O.
