Crafts & Shopping

Whether you are interested in local crafts, serious retail therapy, or just want to buy your milk and eggs locally; The Barn has it all close-by.

For all your basic supplies, Bryn Stores at Brechfa (3 miles) is an award winning Community shop. It is open 6 days a week (Mon-Fri 7am – 6pm & Sat 7am-1pm). As well as all the essentials, the shop sells a range of locally sourced produce, plus newspapers and magazines, cards and also has a free-to-use Link cash machine.

Llandeilo (19 miles) has a tempting range of independently owned shops, boutiques and places to eat. Whether you are looking for upmarket fashion labels, stylish home ware, elegant garden objects, fine art, antiques or local crafts; Llandeilo with its narrow streets and brightly painted buildings, will not disappoint.

Carmarthen (15 miles) has all the regular high street shops that you would expect plus restaurants, bars and a cinema. Supermarkets include Morrisons and Tesco.

If you are interested in quilts and blankets then The Jen Jones Welsh Quilt Centre in Lampeter has a quilt exhibition, shop, courses and a cafe. Her shop in Llanybydder (15 miles) has a huge stock of antique and vintage quilts and blankets where you will be spoilt for choice.

Wool was historically one of the most important and widespread of all the Welsh industries. Located in the historic former Cambrian Mills, the National Wool Museum (19 miles) tells the story of the wool industry and leads visitors through the process from fleece to fabric.

You can visit the sympathetically restored listed mill buildings and see everything from basic hand shears to the modern equipment that transformed the industry. Some of the machines can be viewed in full operation. There is fun for all the family following 'A Woolly Tale' the specially designed trail where you can create your own guide to making and using woollen cloth, and try your hand at carding, spinning and sewing along the way.

Other facilities include a shop, cafe with children’s play area, parking and picnic area. The museum has free entry and is well worth a visit.

Only thirteen operational woollen mills are still in existence in Wales. All can be visited and many offer free entry and have on-site shops. Fortunately the majority of these mills are close by making The Barn an ideal base if you want to explore this fascinating industry and buy anything from locally produced pure wool coats and blankets to rugs and carpets.

Felingwm pottery (6 miles) sells examples of Majolica, earthenware and bone china. The majolica is thrown on the potter's wheel in the traditional way using terra cotta clay, glazed with a white opaque tin glaze and painted with metal oxides and underglaze colours before firing to a high temperature. This range includes dishwasher-safe tableware as well as purely decorative pieces. Some, with the addition of copper lustre, are inspired by the antique pots usually displayed on traditional welsh dressers.

The Merlin's Hill Centre (13 miles) sells their own 100% wool collection made from their flock of Jacob Sheep that are naturally reared on the Hill. The collection includes scarves, throws and blankets. All are spun and woven locally.

Gwilli Pottery (9 miles) has been creating domestic pottery for over 25 years. Open 7 days a week it is a great place to buy unique handmade items from vases and plates to jugs and lamp bases. They produce a number of ranges that are typified by strong, individual designs and colours.