The River Taf () is a river in

West Wales West Wales () is a region of Wales. It has various definitions, either covering Pembrokeshire, Ceredigion and Carmarthenshire, which historically comprised the Welsh principality of ''Deheubarth'', and an alternative definition is to include Swa ...

. It rises in the Preseli Hills,

Pembrokeshire Pembrokeshire ( ; ) is a Principal areas of Wales, county in the South West Wales, south-west of Wales. It is bordered by Carmarthenshire to the east, Ceredigion to the northeast, and otherwise by the sea. Haverfordwest is the largest town and ...

, and continues through

Carmarthenshire Carmarthenshire (; or informally ') is a Principal areas of Wales, county in the South West Wales, south-west of Wales. The three largest towns are Llanelli, Carmarthen and Ammanford. Carmarthen is the county town and administrative centre. ...

Laugharne Laugharne () is a town on the south coast of Carmarthenshire, Wales, lying on the estuary of the River Tâf. The Ancient borough#Charters, ancient borough of Laugharne Township () with its #Laugharne Corporation, Corporation and Charter is a ...

. It is one of the three rivers to enter the sea on the east side of Carmarthen Bay. The other two are the

River Gwendraeth The River Gwendraeth () is a river in Carmarthenshire in West Wales. It has two almost equal branches that have their confluence in their joint estuary at Carmarthen Bay. The Gwendraeth Fawr ('large Gwendraeth' in English) is surprisingly the ...

and River Tywi.

Course

The River Taf is about from Crymych to Ginst Point, of which about is tidal.The Journal of Conchology 1979 p 7 "CARMARTHEN BAY. Three large estuaries, the Gwendraeth, Afon Tywi and Afon Taf enter the sea on the east side of Carmarthen Bay and these rivers contribute to deposits of muddy shores. Water drains from high ground above the village of

Crymych Crymych () is a village of around 800 inhabitants and a Community (Wales), community (population 1,739) in the northeast of Pembrokeshire, Wales. It is situated approximately above sea level at the eastern end of the Preseli Hills, Preseli Mount ...

in Pembrokeshire, and at one time flowed at ground level across the main Cardigan–

Tenby Tenby () is a seaside town and community (Wales), community in the county of Pembrokeshire, Wales. It lies within Carmarthen Bay. Notable features include of sandy beaches and the Pembrokeshire Coast Path, the 13th-century Tenby Town Walls, me ...

road ( A478) before falling to the level of the Whitland and Cardigan Railway station Crymmych Arms (

Great Western Railway The Great Western Railway (GWR) was a History of rail transport in Great Britain, British railway company that linked London with the southwest, west and West Midlands (region), West Midlands of England and most of Wales. It was founded in 1833, ...

) where on the UK

Ordnance Survey The Ordnance Survey (OS) is the national mapping agency for Great Britain. The agency's name indicates its original military purpose (see Artillery, ordnance and surveying), which was to map Scotland in the wake of the Jacobite rising of ...

map of 1866 it is shown as the source of the Taf. The stream fulfills its description "Crymych" (in Welsh "crooked stream") by turning through almost a right angle along the floor of the valley. The stream is mentioned—with various spellings—in records since 1468 and provided both the village and its hostelry with an identity. Modern maps show the source to be altitude at the foot of Frenni Fawr, close to the defunct railway. From Crymych the Taf, augmented by numerous minor tributaries, flows ESE to

Llanfyrnach Llanfyrnach () is a village and parish in Pembrokeshire, Wales. The village is in the electoral ward and community (Wales), community of Crymych. The village of Crymych and the hamlets of Hermon, Pembrokeshire, Hermon, Glandwr, Pembrokeshire, G ...

; SW through Glandwr, Llanglydwen,

Login In computer security, logging in (or logging on, signing in, or signing on) is the process by which an individual gains access to a computer system or program by identifying and authenticating themselves. Typically, user credential ...

and Llanfallteg after which it becomes the county boundary between Pembrokeshire and Carmarthenshire, passing several times beneath railway lines. It is joined by the right bank tributary Afon Marlais, and turns east into Carmarthenshire, then runs beneath the

A40 road The A40 is a trunk road which runs between London and Goodwick (Fishguard), Wales, and officially called The London to Fishguard Trunk Road (A40) in all legal documents and Acts. Much of its length within England has been superseded by motorw ...

Whitland Whitland (, , or , , from the medieval ) is a town and Community (Wales), community in Carmarthenshire, Wales. Geography The Whitland Community (Wales), community is bordered by the communities of: Henllanfallteg; Llanboidy; and Eglwyscummin, a ...

; east to

St Clears St Clears ( ; ) is a town on the River Taf and a community in Carmarthenshire, Wales. At the 2011 census, the population was 2,995. The community includes the small settlements of Bancyfelin and Pwlltrap. It is bordered by the Carmarthenshire t ...

, south to its broad estuary.

References

{{authority control Carmarthen Bay Taf Taf