Towy

The River Towy, known in Welsh as Afon Tywi, is a river in Carmarthenshire, in south-west Wales. It is one of the region’s principal waterways and forms a central feature of the Tywi valley. The river rises in western Carmarthenshire and flows generally east and southeast, passing through the rural countryside and towns before reaching the sea at Carmarthen Bay.

Among the places it traverses are the market town of Llandeilo and the city of Carmarthen, which lie along or near the river’s course. The Tywi’s banks host a number of historic and cultural sites, including the Dinefwr Estate and Dinefwr Castle near Llandeilo. The National Botanic Garden of Wales sits in the Tywi valley at Llanarthney, close to the river and reflecting the landscape’s agricultural and horticultural heritage.

Ecologically, the Tywi supports freshwater species such as salmon and sea trout, and its lower reaches and estuary provide habitat for birds and other wildlife. The river has historically supported milling and other industries and remains an important site for recreational fishing and outdoor activities. The Tywi ultimately drains into Carmarthen Bay, part of the Bristol Channel, where the estuary and coastal environment broaden the river’s influence beyond inland Carmarthenshire.

Name and usage: in Welsh the river is called Afon Tywi; the English form Towy is an anglicized variant of the same name and appears in maps and local usage. The Tywi remains a defining geographical and cultural feature of Carmarthenshire, shaping the landscape, economy, and heritage of the region.