Cross Hands, Carmarthenshire. Open Daily. Free Entry.
Details
Accessibility:
Located on the A48, Cross Hands can easily be accessed by both public and private transport. A number of bus services run through Cross Hands, details of which can be found in the transport section below. There are multiple car parks in Cross Hands, depending on what area of the town you are visiting. There are no public toilets in the town; however, there are toilet facilities in a number of the retail outlets including McDonalds, Co-op and Leekes.
Brief Description:
Cross Hands is situated along the A48 in between Carmarthen and Llanelli. In the 2011 census there were just short of 6000 residents recorded. The town includes numerous commercial businesses, both large and small. There are a number of eating establishments including cafes, bakeries and take-aways. Located in the town centre is a large public hall and cinema (click here for website). On the edge of town sits Llyn Llech Owain, a large 158 acre area of woodland pathways and lakes. It is an area that attracts nature enthusiasts, dog-walkers and runners (click here for website).
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cross_Hands
2025: "Cross Hands is a village[1] in Carmarthenshire, Wales, approximately 12 miles (19 kilometres) from Carmarthen.
Cross Hands is notable for its Public Hall, erected in 1920 and designed by an unknown Italian designer in the classic Art Deco Style. Fully restored, the Public Hall has a fully functioning stage and cinema screen and is protected as a Grade II* listed building. During the 1960s and 1970s the village was a useful halfway stop for motorists from South East Wales driving to/from Pembrokeshire with the local chip shop adjacent to the village crossroads being a very popular facility.
The continuous built up area which includes the villages of Cross Hands, Gorslas, Cefneithin and Pen-y-groes had a population of 5,717 in 2011.[2]
Cross Hands is a growing residential[3] and employment area and includes the established Cross Hands Food Park to the south west of the A48. A new business park, the Cross Hands Business Park,[4] is being developed to the northeast of the A48 which the local authority hopes will create 1,000 jobs.[5]
Gweunydd Glan-y-glasnant, a Site of Special Scientific Interest notable for its species-rich neutral grassland[clarification needed], is 3⁄4 mile (1.2 kilometres) southwest of Cross Hands.[6][7]
The village's name likely comes from the 'Cross Hands Inn' which was located on its cross roads (like many other villages at the time). An unlikely alternative theory comes from the idea that prisoners were transferred between Carmarthen and Swansea in the village.[8]
The village played an important role in the local coal industry, helping to house the many anthracite miners working in the nearby mines such as in Tumble.[9] Norton & Co opened the Cross Hands Colliery in 1869. There were 859 employees at its peak in 1923. By 1962 the village's collieries had closed.[8]
Cross Hands is notable for its public hall and cinema. It was built in 1926 by an unknown Italian architect from Swansea. Its elegant art deco style architecture lead to it gaining a Grade II* listed building status in 1999. After some renovations in the early 1990s, the hall still stands as a fully operational cinema run by a charity. The rear is now used as a hall for the elderly.[10]"
Further Information:
Address:
Cross Hands, Carmarthenshire, SA14 6NA.
Email:
None available.
Phone:
None available.
Website:
https://www.discovercarmarthenshire.com/places/cross-hands/
https://www.carmarthenshire.gov.wales/business/development-and-investment/ten-towns/cross-hands/
Directions:
Cross Hands is located between Llanelli and Carmarthen along the A48.
OS SN 561126.
Transport:
Bus routes are available throughout Carmarthenshire. Buses traveling through Cross Hands are 109, 126, 128, 129, 164 and 165. Detailed timetables can be found here: Bus Timetable.
For more travel information go to www.traveline.info or call 0871 200 22 33.
Amenities:
There is a large range of amenities in Cross Hands including shops, eating establishments, a post office and cash points. Customer toilets are available in a number of establishments throughout the town.
Travel Information
For further travel information in Wales please see: www.traveline.cymru/travel-info
Or call Traveline Cymru on 0800 464 0000
Location
Nearest Venues
*Distances are calculated in a straight line from the current venue, please allow extra time/distance based on available paths or roads.