Carmarthenshire

Carmarthenshire is located in the southwest area of Wales and is considered to be a unitary authority and is one of thirteen historic counties in Wales. This mountainous region is north of Ceredigion, east of Swansea and south of the Bristol Channel. Notable for the nearby proximity to the Black Mountain and the Cambrian Mountains, the area of Carmarthenshire contains many old fishing villages as well as sandy beaches. The three largest towns in Carmarthenshire are Llanelli, which is the most populous, as well as Carmarthen and Ammanford. The main towns include Burry Port, Carmarthen, Llandeilo, Llandovery and St. Clears.

Considering all the historic aspects that Carmarthenshire has to it, there are quite a few attractions to view and enjoy. First you have the amazing beaches net to the stretches of greenery, but you also have historic castles, ruins, and gardens. In particular, the National Botanic Garden of Wales is a must see. As the most visited garden in Wales, it has important plant collections and interactive exhibitions for people of all ages. It also includes a 360 degree cinema. Carmarthenshire also boasts another popular attraction called the Welsh Chocolate Farm which is where Pemberton’s Victorian Chocolates are made.

There are many castles within the Carmarthenshire area such as Dinefwr Castle and Park located in Llandeilo, the Carreg Cennen Castle and Dryslwyn Castle also in Llandeilo, as well as Laugharne Castle in Carmarthen. Carmarthen Castle itself attracts lots of visitors as does the Dylan Thomas Boathouse which is the poet’s former home and presently a museum. In Carmarthenshire you will also find Dolaucothi Gold Mines where the Romans mined gold, as well as other attractions such as St. Martin’s Church, Sir John’s Hill, National Coracle Centre and Carmarthen County Museum.

Carmarthen in particular offers many attractions for visitors to see such as the Kidwelly Industrial Museum, Oriel Myrddin art gallery, and the Carmarthen Heritage Centre which is a history museum. Carmarthen bay also is home to amazing seashores and beautiful estuaries and includes the new Millennium Coastal Park. Here you can take an authentic steam train ride on the Gwili Railway or the Sospan Hopper.

Recreation and outdoor activities are also very popular in Carmarthenshire. For example they have the Dinefwr Park with the medieval deer park, Pembrey Country Park, Pendine Sands, and Brechfa Forest, or you can walk up the nature trails to the site of the Iron Age on Merlin’s Hill. There are also many artisans that live in Carmarthenshire and art galleries where you can view the work of the locals. From historic city centres to century old castles, there is so much to see and do in Carmarthenshire that will keep you busy for a long time.