A478 road
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| Route information | |
| Length: | 31.8 mi (51.2 km) |
| Major junctions | |
| North end: | Cardigan |
 A487 road A40 road A4115 road A477 road A4218 road A4139 road
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| South end: | Tenby |
| Location | |
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Primary destinations: |
Cardigan Tenby |
| Road network | |
The A478 road is a major route in the Welsh counties of Pembrokeshire and Carmarthenshire, connecting Cardigan (junction with the A487 Cardigan bypass) and Tenby.
The road crosses the Preseli Hills and for almost all of its route winds through farmland.
The northern two-thirds of the A478 was for some centuries a drovers' road transporting goods and livestock from north Pembrokeshire and Ireland (Cardigan was then a port) before the coming of the railways in the mid-19th century. The road was turnpiked probably in the 18th century. There have been only minor and local deviations in the route, principally to improve river crossings and eliminate dangerous bends. Short sections of the original road, little more than a country lane, can still be seen, as can some early stone bridges.
One mile south of Cardigan the road bridges the River Piliau and crosses the county boundary into Pembrokeshire at Glanpwllafon. It then runs through Pen-y-bryn village and Bridell hamlet, bridges the River Plysgog and continues to Rhoshill hamlet, after which it is crossed by the B4332 Eglwyswrw-Cenarth road. The road then climbs the northern slopes of the eastern end of the Preseli Hills through Blaenffos village, bridging the River Nevern (near its source) at Riverlea, to Crymych village.
Still at an altitude of over 200 metres (660 ft), the A478 passes through Pentre Galar hamlet, crosses the county boundary to Carmarthenshire and passes a viewpoint near the summit of Carn Wen, where it reaches its highest altitude of 260 metres (850 ft). The scars of extensive quarrying at Carn Wen (also known as Garnwen) are clearly visible from the road; quarrying for aggregate resumed there in 2013.
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Wikipedia