Carmarthenshire

Heart of Wales Scenic Railway

This 120 mile long stretch of track runs from Shrewsbury to Swansea with Llandrindod Wells as its mid-point. On your way, you’ll see stunning surroundings and landscapes, picturesque rural communities and pass through six tunnels and over seven bridges.

Black Mountain

Right at the most westerly part of the Brecon Beacons is the area called Black Mountain. A little confusingly named perhaps as it’s not really a mountain, but a collection of peaks clustered around a series of glacial lakes. But nonetheless, this is one of Wales’ great centres for outdoor activities. From climbing and trekking through to white water rafting, it’s all here. Even underground caving too.

Millennium Coastal Path

This takes in 21km of coastline along the Burry estuary near Llanelli from Loughor to Pembrey. With the help of a Millennium Commission grant, it’s not just the coastal path that’s been restored and beautiful natural surroundings and wildlife that you’ll be able to enjoy. Three artists were commissioned to produce artworks and sculptures to work in sympathy with their surroundings and provide extra interest on the way.

Llandeilo

On the edge of the Black Mountain and perched on a hilltop site, this town was once the ancient capital of Wales. With its bridge over the Tywi and Georgian street, it’s a charming place to visit. Nearby is Dinefwr Castle, which has grounds worked on by legendary garden landscaper, Capability Brown.

Aberglasney

Close to the National Botanic Gardens, Aberglasney represents a great example of a restoration project, with the gardens around the ruins of an Elizabethan country house being returned to their former glory. At their heart is a 16th century cloister and parapet walk and ten acres containing six different types of garden.

Find out more about Aberglasney Gardens

National Botanic Garden of Wales

This is one of Wales’s newest and most stunning tourist attractions, the centrepiece of which is the amazing Norman Foster designed glasshouse. Set in hundreds of acres of lovely countryside in the Tywi Valley, this is the world’s largest single span glasshouse and creates a Mediterranean style climate for a fascinating selection of plants from all around the globe.

Find out more the National Botanic Garden of Wales

Carmarthen

This is the ancient capital of the region and is reputedly home of the Arthurian sorcerer, Merlin. As you’d expect there’s a lot of history to discover in this busy market town including a Roman amphitheatre, Carmarthen Castle and a variety of old churches and chapels. At the market, try the local delicacy Carmarthen ham – it’s a lot like Serrano ham.

Brechfa Forest

An unspoilt village in the hills, the nearby forest is an ideal place for hiking through, or for the more energetic amongst you, mountain biking. On your way, you’ll find deep stream valleys, waterfalls, steep climbs and rapid descents.

Laugharne

This picturesque township with a castle, it is best known for its connections to Dylan Thomas who spent much time here. His legacy has been lovingly preserved here with his home being converted into a museum – the Dylan Thomas Boathouse – with many sympathetic exhibits and displays. If you want a real Thomas experience, the pub where he used to drink is still largely unchanged too.

Find out more about Laugharne Castle

Dolaucothi Roman Gold Mines

Going back over 2,000 years, this is the only place in the British Isles that the Romans are known to have mined gold in and their excavations have been well preserved over the years. Set in beautiful bucolic countryside, you can see the Roman mines and more modern ones too. As well as going underground you can even try your hand at a bit of prospecting.

Pendine Sands

At seven miles, this is one of the longest stretches of beach in Britain. Famously, it was here in 1927 that Malcolm Campbell broke the world land speed record, clocking in at 174 mph. Welsh rival JG Parry Thomas tried to top that in a car called Babs, but tragically, was killed in the event. The Speed Museum on the sea front commemorates these and other attempts. Nowadays, you too can drive on the sands, but only at 10mph.

Hywell Dda Centre at Whitland

Hywell Dda is a genuine Welsh hero. Whitland is the place where he convened an assembly in the tenth century that laid down the basic structure of Welsh Law which stood until the Act of Union in 1536. This is celebrated at the award winning Hywell Dda Centre in the form of six separate gardens, each commemorating a different division of the Law.