Discover Carmarthenshire SOUTH WEST WALES Official Visitor Guide 1 discover... First time in Carmarthenshire? Then lucky you, because the delights of this incredibly diverse county are just waiting to be discovered. Unspoilt landscape is what draws most visitors to Carmarthenshire, but there is so much more here to keep you 3 coming back. he dizzy heights of majestic you can fish, cycle or stroll. TCarreg Cennen Castle, the Spend action-packed days breathtaking beauty of the jumping over cliffs and quiet Beacons and the uniqueness of evenings unwinding in country Dylan Thomas’s lovely pubs over a pint of local brew. Laugharne, experience Carmarthenshire has a unique crystalline coastlines and vibrant sense of place and if you are 4 world-class gardens. We’ll even looking for authentic share with you some of experiences, we’ve got timeless Carmarthenshire’s best kept landscapes - not tired beaches, secrets - did you know we have character - not crowds. What the longest, sandiest beach in you will discover here is Wales and the only known countryside pure and simple, a Roman gold mine in Britain? coastline that has changed little Carmarthenshire’s beauty is not since the days it inspired Dylan simply aesthetic. You can walk, Thomas, and places to visit that 5 1 | discovercarmarthenshire.com inside... 7 3 sea & coast 15 taste it, touch it, 5 castles & gardens see it 7 great outdoors 17 rural chic 9 days out 19 grading & symbols 11 10 great days out 21 where to stay 8 13 market towns 45 map 1 Dryslwyn 2 2 Pembrey 3 Marros 4 National Botanic Garden of Wales 5 Laugharne Castle 9 6 Burry Port Harbour have genuine charm and 7 Brecon Beacons National Park character. And it’s all so 8 Christmas fireworks, Llanelli accessible, with excellent road 9 Pembrey Country Park and rail links, making it an ideal destination for that refreshing short break or longer holiday at any time of the year. 6 discovercarmarthenshire.com | 2 1 & 4 Cefn Sidan Beach, Pembrey 2 Burry Port Harbour 3 Llansteffan Beach 5 Ferryside 6 Llanelli Beach 7 Scotts Bay 8 Pendine 1 sea & c ast Take a quick look at a map of armarthenshire is home to rock-pools or walk over the South West Wales and it’s easy to Can amazing variety of headland, which is the gateway pinpoint the Gower Peninsula and seashores, from the longest to the Pembrokeshire Coastal Tenby, at the start of the stretch of sand in Wales to National Park. Even Pendine Pembrokeshire Coast National beautiful estuaries and a traffic can’t compete with the 7 mile Park, but what about the bit in the free - and highly successful stretch of sands at Cefn Sidan. middle? The gently curving 55 coastal park. The sense of space here is miles of Carmarthenshire coastline almost overpowering. Behind the from Llanelli to Amroth, boasts To experience the beauty of soft rolling dunes is one of villages, attractions, coves, Carmarthenshire’s coastline a Wales’ top attractions. Pembrey beaches and an array of visit to Laugharne is a must. As Country Park has 500 acres accommodation to suit every taste. anyone who knows the place will filled with adventure tell you, there’s nowhere quite playgrounds, crazy golf, cycle 2 like Laugharne. The master of hire, pitch and putt and a 130 capturing its uniqueness in print metre dry ski slope. was the writer and former resident Dylan Thomas, who Almost £30million has been wrote ‘Under Milk Wood’ in spent on completely homage to his beloved transforming the 14 mile strech Laugharne. of shoreline from Pembrey to just beyond Llanelli. The Millennium West of Laugharne is a beach Coastal Park is a recreational that even today is long enough to and wildlife ribbon of revitalised 3 be used for land speed records. harbours, traffic free cyclepaths, In the 1920’s Pendine Sands a championship golf course and echoed to the roar of monster it all ends at a high point with machines driven by Sir Malcolm the WWT National Wetlands Campbell and Welsh ace JG Centre Wales - an internationally Parry Thomas. Nowadays, just sit important bird reserve on the back and soak up the mouth of the Loughour estuary. surroundings; mess about in the 3 | discovercarmarthenshire.com View the beaches, coves and coastlines 5 of Carmarthenshire on line at discovercarmarthenshire.com. Why not try your hand at rock pooling too? More information on 01267 231557. 8 6 4 7 discovercarmarthenshire.com | 4 1 & 2 Aberglasney Gardens 3 & 4 National Botanic Garden of Wales 5 Carreg Cennen Castle 6 Laugharne Castle 7 Kidwelly Castle castles & gardens Carmarthenshire’s fertile land the edge of a 325ft cliff with testament to the superb growing has been zealously fought over. 60-mile panoramic views that conditions, the amazing multi- Past centuries have seen much are breathtaking - the Preseli trunked Western Red Cedar has bloodshed, political intrigue and Hills to the west, and the to be seen to be believed. the building of castles to both brooding Black Mountain to subjugate and defend this the south. treasured land. “Carmarthenshire’s Carreg The fertility of Cennen and Llansteffan armarthenshire’s stormy past Carmarthenshire has also castles are included in the Cis evident from the many helped to create some top ten UK most romantic castles in the county. Dinefwr, outstanding gardens. The ruins”. Dryslwyn, Llansteffan, Kidwelly, National Botanic Garden of BBC Countryfile Magazine Newcastle Emlyn, and Wales is a site of Carmarthen, some of which are international importance and accessible in the evening. A the nearby Aberglasney Gardens Explore the mystique of picnic, sitting looking at the is a great historical treasure, Carmarthenshire’s impressive beautiful landscape, makes for a “nowhere in the country can you castles and the beauty of some very memorable occasion. Carreg visit two gardens of such of the most glorious gardens in Cennen near Llandeilo is the contrasting age and style in such the UK. ultimate romantic ruin, a a short distance”. weatherbeaten shell poised on The arboretum at Gelli Aur bears 1 2 3 5 | discovercarmarthenshire.com View the Castles & Gardens Guide online at: discovercarmarthenshire.com 01267 231557 5 4 Aberglasney Gardens: www.aberglasney.org National Botanic Garden of Wales: www.gardenofwales.org.uk Castles: www.cadw.wales.gov.uk 6 7 discovercarmarthenshire.com | 6 1 Cefn Sidan, Pembrey 2 Carmarthen Bay 3 River Teifi 4 Brechfa 5 Trapp, Carreg Cennen 6 Millennium Coastal Park, Llanelli 7 Pendine 8 Rhandirmwyn dirty weekends Stretching from Carmarthen Bay to the Brecon Beacons, 3 Carmarthenshire is the 3rd largest county in Wales. ut here in Wales’s own ‘Wild In Carmarthenshire, short breaks OWest’, it doesn't matter what that harness the power of the kind of outdoor action you're wind bring you kite surfing, after as an adventure holiday in windsurfing and sailing on stiff Carmarthenshire has it all. Hit breezes. Water challenges are not the waves and surf pure blue all coastal with some of the best breakers, kayak around the canoeing runs in Wales available dramatic Carmarthen Bay all year on the river Teifi. National Cycle Network and coastline or dive in clear green traffic free routes. The 13 mile Gulf Stream waters. We can boast two of Europe’s traffic free cycle way along the best Sewin (Sea Trout) and Millennium coastal park is a 1 Salmon Rivers within our ‘must ride’ two wheeled boundaries. The Teifi in the experience. North, and the Towy dissecting the county as it flows south Mountain bikers are addicted to through the soft and tranquil the adrenaline buzz - and it’s countryside before entering the available in big doses in the sea at Carmarthen bay. trails that snake through the Brechfa, Cwm Rhaeadr and Come walking in Carmarthenshire family trails at Crychan forest. 2 and enjoy gentle riverside paths, seafront strolls or head for the You will find the perfect horse rough, tough Black Mountain in riding experience in the Brecon Beacons National Carmarthenshire. Bring your own Park. or borrow one! Choose from beach rides, trail rides, stationary For cyclists, there’s an excellent rides, a horse riding safari or an choice of quiet country lanes, instructional riding holiday. cross country sections of the 7 | discovercarmarthenshire.com 4 5 6 8 7 Specialist titles available to view online at: discovercarmarthenshire.com • Fishing in Carmarthenshire • Walking in Carmarthenshire • Cycling in Carmarthenshire discovercarmarthenshire.com | 8 1 3 2 4 9 | discovercarmarthenshire.com 1 Cenarth 2 Wetlands Centre Wales 3 Pendine 4 Llanelli 5 Pembrey Country Park 6 Gwili Steam Railway 7 Llyn Llech Owain Country Park 8 Cwmrhaeadr 9 Riding at Marros 5 days out Carmarthenshire is packed with Howard. Nature lovers things to do and places to see will be in seventh heaven whatever the weather. at the Red Kite Feeding Station in Llanddeusant as over 50 red 6 here are world class gardens, kites feature in the daily Tidyllic coastlines and acres of spectacular aerial display. country parks. Pembrey, Gelli Aur and Llyn Llech Owain provide As well as a wealth of hours of fun with nature trails, attractions, bike routes, playgrounds and Carmarthenshire also brilliant picnic sites. boasts a range of organised events, Leap over rocks and explore festivals and hidden caves among the 55 celebrations which 7 miles of coastline, whatever the reflect the weather. Rock pooling is a must! changing of the Let off steam paintballing at seasons. Cenarth Adventure Centre. Brace yourself for top speed quad Order the ‘ Days biking. Enjoy exhilarating white- Out Guide’ or knuckle descents on mountain the ‘ What’s On’ guide online at bike trails. For an even faster www.discovercarmarthenshire.com experience head to the home of 9 8 Welsh motor racing - Pembrey Race Circuit.