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