[HDNG]INTRODUCTION:[EHDNG][PARA][BULL] Formerly St David's College[EBOLD][PARA][BULL] The College is part of University of Wales and students are [PARA]entitled to use its facilities.[EBOLD][PARA]Deep in south-west Wales, where valleys meet, is a little market [PARA]town called Lampeter, so remote it doesn't even have a train [PARA]station, Ivor, and quite a way from Camarthen, [ITAL]the nearest town [PARA]with any tinsel. [EITAL]In this virtual village just round the corner from [PARA]nowhere, is the appropriately small college. Set in its own [PARA]grounds, the [ITAL]elegant [EITAL]stone buildings of Wales's oldest university [PARA]college almost engulf the town. Beyond the town's borders, [PARA]you're immediately plunged into the beautifully rugged hills from [PARA]which the stones of Stonehenge were cut and 13 miles away, the[PARA]town of Aberaeron on Wales's west coast.[HDNG]ATMOSPHERE:[EHDNG][PARA][ITAL]As the country's smallest university (okay, strictly speaking it's [PARA]only a university college), it either has to be very friendly and [PARA]relaxed or very claustrophobic. It doesn't seem claustrophobic [PARA](although the isolation is so friendly, you'd almost expect to see a [PARA]few hair lips and overhanging brows). The pace of life trips along [PARA]nicely (a strange mixture of old school ties and hippies) and [PARA]students are happy enough to make their own entertainment. [PARA]Everyone knows each other (our [EITAL][PUSH]push[EPUSH][ITAL] spy was immediately [PARA]spotted as an auslander) and the local community came to terms[PARA]with the College about a century ago and now they get on like a [PARA]house on fire (no offence to Welsh nationalists). Students need [PARA]to prepare themselves mentally for Lampeter's remoteness. [PARA]Those who find themselves here by accident, through UCAS [PARA]clearing or whatever, can have a problem adjusting.[EITAL][HDNG]THE TOWN:[EHDNG][PARA][STAT][BULL] Population: 4,000 [BULL] London: 180miles [BULL] Carmarthen: [PARA]22miles [BULL] Swansea: 45miles[ESTAT][PARA]It depends what you consider to be the local town. Lampeter has [PARA]about 20 shops [ITAL]and there the excitement ends[EITAL], so most students[PARA]look on Carmarthen as the local big-time even though that's only [PARA]got 8,500 people. Built in stone and slate, Carmarthen is a [ITAL]good [EITAL][PARA]shopping town serving quite a large catchment area where there [PARA]are more sheep than people. The surrounding area is rich in [PARA]tourist attractions: Roman gold mines; castles; Talley Abbey; [PARA]Pembrokeshire National Park and the famous Devil's Bridge.[HDNG]TRAVEL:[EHDNG][PARA][BOLD]Trains: [EBOLD]Nearest station is at Carmarthen from which you can get [PARA]a main line train to Swansea, Cardiff or London.[PARA][BOLD]Car: [EBOLD][ITAL]Now there's a good idea. If you can afford it, get a car, or, [PARA]failing that, a turbo-powered lawn mower. In Lampeter, it makes [PARA]a big difference to the quality of life; day trips and shopping [PARA]become feasible.[EITAL] 18 miles (1/2hr) off the A40.[PARA][BOLD]Hitching: [EBOLD][ITAL]Without any major roads, it ain't easy. Allow a day to [PARA]get anywhere and take a sleeping bag just in case, 'cause it's not [PARA]worth thinking, 'I can always catch a bus', because you can't.[EITAL][PARA][BOLD]Local: [EBOLD]The buses stick to the timetables, one every hour till about [PARA]5.30pm. It's ú3.50 return to Camarthen and a similar service to [PARA]Aberystwyth (25 miles to the north).[PARA][BOLD]Taxis: [EBOLD]Sure, there are taxis, but frankly, students can't afford the [PARA]cost anywhere - it's about ú20 to Camarthen. Maybe worth it to [PARA]have a night out in town if 4 share the ride back.[PARA][BOLD]Bicycles: [EBOLD]There are sheds, not too many hills and virtually no [PARA]theft, [ITAL]but without motorised legs, most places are out of cycle [PARA]reach[EITAL].[HDNG]NOS and REQUIREMENTS:[EHDNG][PARA][BOLD]Arts[EBOLD] 1,310 16-18pts[BOLD][HDNG]LIBRARIES and COMPUTERS:[EHDNG][EBOLD][PARA][BOLD][STAT][BULL] Books: 210,000 [BULL] Periodicals: 1,000 [BULL] Study places: 190 [PARA]Computer workstations: 75[ESTAT][EBOLD][PARA]There are 2 libraries: the Old Library (with 20,000 historical [PARA]books, documents and manuscripts) and the Main Library.[HDNG]CAREER PROSPECTS:[EHDNG][PARA][STAT][BULL] Careers Service [BULL] No of staff: 1full/1part [BULL] Unemployed [PARA]after 6mths (1992): 14%[ESTAT][HDNG]SPECIAL FEATURES:[EHDNG][PARA][BULL]Behind the campus on a hill known as Magic Mountain is an [PARA]old Celtic ruin where ley lines converge. According to the [PARA]students, Magic Mountain gets its nickname from the harvest of [PARA]mushrooms which grows on its slopes (but too many reapers [PARA]spoil the crop). Allegedly, a large percentage of Lampeter [PARA]students also use cannabis.[HDNG]FAMOUS ALUMNI:[EHDNG][PARA]Jack Higgins (thriller writer); Sulak Sivaraska (Thai human rights [PARA]campaigner); Sue Slipman (Convenor of the National Council of [PARA]Single Parent Families and former NUS President); Harry [PARA]Secombe's brother ([ITAL]big deal[EITAL]). Sir Anthony Hopkins (actor) is an [PARA]Honorary Fellow.[HDNG]FURTHER INFO:[EHDNG][PARA]Prospectuses for undergrads and postgrads. Alternative [PARA]prospectus from SU.[PARA][PARA]
