Newcastle Emlyn

Many thanks to Dolhaidd Isaf Holiday Cottages for facilitating this camera's location and capitally funding its installation. Dol-Haidd Isaf is one of the oldest recorded settlements in the Teifi Valley. Although the earliest precise mention found so far records a marriage in 1550, it is certain that the house dates from at least one hundred years earlier, and may be much older even than that. The River Teifi, known as Afon Teifi in Welsh, serves as the boundary between Ceredigion and Carmarthenshire counties in southwest Wales for the majority of its 75-mile length, making it the longest river entirely located in Wales. It gracefully flows into the sea near the town of Cardigan. The river catchment area is estimated to cover 1,008 square kilometers. The source of the Teifi lies in Llyn Teifi, one of several lakes collectively known as the Teifi Pools, located in the northern part of Ceredigion county.The River Teifi holds significant importance as one of the major game rivers in Wales. It exhibits fast-flowing characteristics and experiences rapid fluctuations in water levels following heavy rainfall. Real-time monitoring of water levels and river conditions on the River Teifi is facilitated by a strategically positioned Farson streaming webcam. The Teifi valley has been inhabited since prehistoric times, with numerous remnants of Iron Age and Stone Age civilizations, including burial chambers and standing stones. The medieval Strata Florida Abbey, adorned with remarkable examples of encaustic tiles, stands near the river. The Lampeter campus of the University of Wales, Trinity Saint David, and its predecessor, the University of Wales, Lampeter (established in 1822), are also located in close proximity to the river. Moreover, the river forms the southern boundary of the hamlet of Pen-y-wenallt.Between Cenarth and Cardigan, there exists an ancient tradition of fishing and transportation utilizing coracles—simple, lightweight boats made of bent sticks covered with waterproofed hide or skins. These coracles are propelled by a single oar positioned at the craft's front, requiring considerable skill from the operator. Coracles are primarily used for salmon fishing with nets. However, this form of fishing is now strictly regulated, with the rights passed down from father to son. Additionally, an age-old tradition of illegal salmon and sea-trout fishing persists in the lower reaches of the Teifi. In 1188, Giraldus Cambrensis reported the last known colony of European beavers in England or Wales to have existed on the Teifi.In the present day, the River Teifi continues to hold significance for the surrounding population and serves as the primary water source for the local area of Mid & South Ceredigion. Concerns have been raised regarding the river's health, including elevated levels of phosphates, nitrates, and sewage pollution. Environmental agencies have collected data indicating that the River Teifi experiences the highest number of sewage discharges in Wales. A recent analysis identified the river as the ninth most polluted in the UK. In March 2023, local press reported further concerns after the removal of 10 tonnes of debris and agricultural waste from a 3-kilometer stretch of the river in Llandysul.