Swiss Valley and the Lliedi Reservoirs
Carmarthenshire
The Cwm Lliedi reservoirs fill the wooded valley just north of Llanelli that locals call Swiss Valley, and the woodland paths here are one of the town's best loved places to walk a dog off lead. The lower reservoir was built in 1878 to supply the town, and the upper one followed in 1905 as demand grew. Since 2020 Llanelli Rural Council has looked after the lower reservoir under a community adoption agreement with Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water, improving the paths and gates, and the water is now used for paddleboarding, kayaking and fishing. This walk links the paths around both reservoirs for a circuit of about 5km, with roughly 150 metres of gentle up and down. The western shore path is surfaced and suitable for wheelchairs, while the eastern path is gravel through the trees and can be muddy, so boots help after rain.
This is a popular dog friendly walk for Llanelli, with no livestock and plenty of room for a dog with good recall on the woodland paths, which also give good shade. Keep your dog close on the busier surfaced shore, where you share the path with families, anglers and people carrying boards to the water. Swimming is not permitted in the reservoir, and with paddlers and fishing lines about it is best to keep dogs out of the water too, so bring a drink for them on warm days. The main car park off Llannon Road is free, with toilets by the water sports base that open when it does.
At a Glance
- Distance
- 5.0 km (3.1 miles)
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Duration
- 1 hr 30 min
- Walk Type
- Reservoir, Woodland
- Route Type
- Circular
- Off Lead Potential
- Moderate
- Livestock Risk
- None
- Facilities
- Toilets at the water sports base (open when LiveFree Adventures is operating); refreshments from the same base; picnic areas.
- Parking
- Main Swiss Valley car park off A476 Llannon Road, free, gated (9am to 8pm); smaller ungated car park between the upper and lower reservoirs.
Dog Friendly Stays Nearby
Make a weekend of it. These are the closest dog friendly places to stay to Swiss Valley and the Lliedi Reservoirs, each one checked for its dog policy before we listed it.
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All dog friendly stays in CarmarthenshireFrequently Asked Questions
Is Swiss Valley and the Lliedi Reservoirs dog friendly?
Swiss Valley is one of Llanelli's most popular dog walking spots and rates 7 out of 10 for dog friendliness. There's no livestock to worry about, the woodland paths offer good shade, and there's plenty of space to stretch out on a circuit of around 5km. It does get busy, particularly on the surfaced shore path where you'll share the space with families, anglers and water sports users, so it suits dogs that are reasonably settled around people.
Can dogs be off lead at Swiss Valley and the Lliedi Reservoirs?
Dogs with good recall can enjoy off lead time on the woodland paths around both reservoirs. On the busier surfaced western shore path, it's worth keeping dogs on the lead as you'll be sharing the route with families, anglers and people heading to the water with paddleboards. There's a good balance of open and sheltered walking, so most dogs get a decent run.
What should I know before visiting Swiss Valley and the Lliedi Reservoirs with my dog?
Swimming is not permitted in the reservoirs, and with paddlers and fishing lines in use it's best to keep dogs out of the water too — so bring a drink for your dog on warmer days. The eastern path through the trees can get muddy after rain, so boots are a good idea, while the western shore is surfaced and more all-weather. The main car park off Llannon Road is free but gated between 9am and 8pm, and toilets are available at the water sports base when it's operating.
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Swiss Valley Reservoir car park, Llannon Road, Felinfoel, Llanelli SA14 8BT
51.7077, -4.1419
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