The Light in the Hall series 2: If Llanemlyn is real, and 'seductive' filming locations used in the Channel 4 crime drama
It's a largely Welsh cast, but was it actually filmed in Wales?
The Light in the Hall is back with a series 2, entitled Still Waters, and it couldn’t be any more apt, as one of the central filming locations is a reservoir.
The crime drama captivated TV viewers when series 1 first aired in 2022. So Channel 4 did the decent thing and recommissioned a second run.
This time, four years later, only one cast member returns in what has become an anthology series of sorts. But there’s another returning star – and that’s the stunning scenery.
The six-part drama is, once again, set in the Welsh town of Llanemyln. But is it a real town? And what filming locations did the cast and crew of The Light in the Hall series 2 actually use? Here’s everything you need to know.
Where is crime drama set? Is Llanemlyn a real place?
The events of The Light in the Hall series 2 take place in the same Welsh town as series 1, and that’s Llanemlyn. However, it is not a real town in west Wales. It’s a fictional location.
The psychological drama returns following a new story in the same location. After serving a 22-year prison sentence for the murder of his cousin, Rhys Owen returns to his home town of Llanemlyn – older, quieter, but still carrying secrets. Once again, tensions are high over a new reservoir expansion, with protests erupting over town.
It opens old wounds for Rhys. A jury found him guilty of the murder of his activist cousin when the sabotage of a reservoir project ended in a death in the 90s.
In the middle of this, student journalist Caryl Huws starts digging into the historic murder. But she finds many of the local residents aren’t willing to revisit their troubled past…
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What filming locations did cast and crew use for The Light in the Hall series 2?
The Light in the Hall series 2 was actually filmed in the historic market town of Llandovery, Carmarthenshire. Llandovery posed as Llanemlyn. It lies on the River Tywi , midway between Swansea and Brecon.
Producer Nora Ostler Spiteri said: “It has been a pleasure to collaborate once again with Long Story and APC to bring this story to the world. It has been wonderful to collaborate with such a talented cast and crew, and it was lovely to return to Llandovery to bring the world to life.”
Talking about filming there, Rhys Owen actor Mark Lewis Jones said: “I think the world of The Light in the Hall is really seductive. It’s a really small town Wales, but with these incredible backdrops, in particular the reservoir. The landscape is extraordinary, I think. And they’re just really great stories.”
Although primarily filmed in Carmarthenshire, cast and crew also shot scenes in the Tywi Valley towns of Llandovery, Llangadog, Llandeilo, and Carmarthen. The sweeping, dramatic landscapes and rural roads of the Tywi Valley also act as a crucial, atmospheric backdrop for the series.
As with Keeping Faith, cast and crew filmed The Light in the Hall back-to-back in both English and Welsh for S4C and Channel 4.
Is there a Nantwen reservoir in Wales?
There’s isn’t a real Nantwen reservoir in Wales. Nantwen is a fictional name. However, the place used as a filming location is very real. The reservoir scenes were filmed at the Llyn Brianne Dam and Reservoir in Wales. It’s a very distinct dam with a unique spillway design, and is known as the tallest of its type in Britain.
The structure is a rock-filled dam, and stands at approximately 300 feet (91 meters). The reservoir, which holds 64 million cubic meters of water, acts as a regulator for the River Tywi.
Locals recognise the scenic landscape for its dramatic cliffs and forested hills. It is a popular location for outdoor activities such as hiking, biking, and bird watching.
Other key filming locations used in The Light in the Hall series 2
- In episode 1, Rhys Owen walks over the Towy Bridge, a metal truss bridge located in Rhandirmwyn, Carmarthenshire, Wales. The bridge crosses the Afon Tywi (River Towy) and was built around 1913. The area was previously used for filming the 2020 series of I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here!
- The waterfall in episode 3 where Eve meets Hari is in Penllergaer Valley Woods near Swansea. Described as a “secret and magical place”, the woods are a Victorian estate which was once the home of renowned horticulturist, photographer and astronomer, John Dillwyn Llewelyn.
- In episode 4, Robert is seen swimming in a scenic indoor swimming pool. This is actually Lanelay Hall Hotel & Spa in Hensol, located 22km from Cardiff airport.
- Cascade Towers construction site on City Road in Cardiff also makes an appearance in episode 4. The project is a seven-storey development scheduled to provide 48 one-bedroom apartments for social housing. It is now finished, having complete in March 2026.
- The police station featured in episode 6 s actually the Pontypridd Register Office, a Grade II listed building located in Pontypridd, Wales. The site preciously functioned as the Pontypridd Coroner’s Court, where inquests were held regarding unexplained deaths in the area. The building is situated uphill from the railway station and faces the Dewi-Saint Hospital.
- The final episode shows Caryl visit the Western Herald building. This is actually the Llys Cadwyn development in Pontypridd, Wales, featuring modern buildings with brick facades and large windows. The area includes commercial spaces such as the Leisure for Life gym and cafes like Gatto Lounge. Transport for Wales occupies office spaces within the Llys Cadwyn complex.
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