Are dogs allowed at Ty Mawr Country Hotel?

Yes, we welcome well-behaved dogs in most areas of the hotel, including certain bedrooms and the bar area.

Do you serve Sunday lunch?

Yes, we serve a traditional Sunday lunch from 12:30 to 3:00 PM every Sunday. Booking is recommended.

Is Ty Mawr suitable for walking holidays?

Yes, we are perfectly located near Brechfa Forest with plenty of scenic trails suitable for walkers and cyclists.

Our Partnership with Fferm Tyllwyd and History of the famous Welsh Black

22 May 2020

We have been amazed since we arrived at Tŷ Mawr about the amount of highly skilled and passionate farmers, producers and craftspeople that live so close to us.

In this blog, we have decided to feature Fferm Tyllwyd who have a wonderful farm with a famous Welsh Black Herd. Fferm Tyllwyd have been supplying Tŷ Mawr for many years exclusively for the Beef Fillet as well as our partner for Beef overall.

History of the Welsh Black

The Welsh Black is one of the oldest in Britain, having inhabited the hills of Wales since pre-Roman and pre-Christian times. They were the ancient Briton’s most prized possessions when they retreated west from the invading Saxons.

As with most true native breeds, the origins of the Welsh Black are somewhat clouded. There is evidence that the breed, or its forerunners, existed in Roman times and certainly black cattle have been bred in Wales for over 1,000 years.

In the 18th century to get the best price for them, the Welsh Black had to be transported far away to London. As there were no railways yet, the cattle had to walk. The men who made the journey with them were known as drovers. But droving was not all about the livestock. Money and its movement was a large part of the job – the cash from the sale of the cattle had to be brought back.

Many people entrusted the men with other sums of money that needed to be moved in and out of Wales. Rents and taxes often made their way across the country in drovers’ pockets. But transporting cash on foot, along predictable routes, meant that the drovers were a target for highwaymen and bandits.

If there were banks along the route, then this would really help cut the risk of robbery. It was with this in mind that David Jones (himself a successful drover) decided to set up a bank. He opened his first branch in Llandovery in 1799. The location was key – the wide flat pasture already served as a meeting point for the drovers and their animals.

Jones took the image of the black ox as the bank’s symbol, and it soon became known as the Black Ox Bank. When he began to issue his own banknotes, an engraving of the famous cattle was prominently displayed. Lloyds Bank took over the firm in 1909, but the branches continued to use the black ox on their cheques for years to come.

Farm Overview

Fferm Tyllwyd have a 200-acre organic farm situated above the Tywi Valley halfway between Nantgaredig and Brechfa near the village of Felingwm-uchaf. Just 3 miles from Tŷ Mawr this is a perfect example of how you can enjoy the very best of Wales with true farm to fork.

The farm raises Welsh Black cattle and also a flock of sheep and has been in the same family for over 100 years. The farm looks over the hills with a huge panoramic view as its plus 800ft above sea level is the most beautiful setting.

Farm to Fork

We have the Beef Fillet on our menu normally once a month if you would like to experience it then do give us a call so we can keep some by. You can also buy the Welsh Black Beef from Fferm Tyllwyd from our local shop community shop in Brechfa and Dryslwyn, plus farmers markets in Llansawel and Myddfai.

We are honoured to have the opportunity to bring this wonderful meat to you and look forward to telling you more when you visit.