Holiday Cottages in - Carmarthenshire - Wales

Carmarthenshire is situated in South West Wales and is also known as the Garden of Wales. This region of Wales has one of the most diverse landscapes. Abundant in beautiful green spaces, rolling landscapes and secluded landscapes, impressive mountains, ancient forests and wide spread golden sandy beaches.

t makes for the perfect getaway for all ages and any type of break, from adventure, relaxing, family and romantic breaks. With so much on offer from stunning scenery, historic houses, glorious gardens and beautiful beaches there will be no shortage of things to see and do. The people you will meet are very friendly and you will be made to feel at home in this delightful county.

Getting to Carmarthenshire could not be easier as it is served by fantastic road communications. If driving from London take the M4 and then the A48 to Carmarthen taking less than 4 hours. If arriving from other parts of the country Carmarthenshire can be reached easily by the M5, M6, M42 and M50. There are great public transport systems to take you to and around the county from coach and buses to rail. There is a fast and frequent rail service from London Paddington to Wales that takes under 3 hours, with other routes to Swansea from Manchester, Birmingham, Portsmouth Harbour and London Waterloo. There is a twice-daily service from Swansea to the North East of England and Birmingham. If arriving from sea, Swansea has a direct ferry link to Cork and Pembroke Dock and Fishguard sail to Rosslare. Carmarthenshire is only 1 hours drive from Cardiff International airport with direct flights to Paris, Amsterdam, Dublin, Belfast and numerous other destinations in Europe.

One of the assets that draws most people to Carmarthenshire is the Brecon Beacons National Park, the areas proudest possession. The western end of the Beacons is found in the south east of the county, and this stunning area is home to a host of wildlife and stunning scenery just waiting to be explored. Within this area of the Beacons you will discover the summit of the Black Mountain, it is
isolated, ethereal, wild and enticing yet in contrast beside this you will happen upon lakes, waterfalls and lots and lots of green grass, it is one of the least explored sections of the Brecons.

With miles of coast, Carmarthen Bay is a warren of beaches, coves and far reaching stretches of sea. They are considered to be some of the most wonderful sandy beaches in Europe. Some of the beaches are Pendine, Laugharne, Llansteffan Beach and Scotts Bay, Ferryside, Cefn Sidan, Pembrey and Millennium Coastal Park, Llanelli each has their own attractions and appeals. All are glorious and certainly worth a visit. Also along the coast are attractions that appeal to all ages including, WWT Wetlands Centre, The Discovery Centre, Dylan Thomas Boathouse, Museum of Speed, Pendine and much more.

When visiting Carmarthenshire you will be spoilt with the choice of activities on offer, obviously being a great outdoor venue there is a host of outdoor activities on offer from horse riding, golf, fishing, cycling, rafting, adventure sports, such as abseiling, coastal climbing, surfing, kayaking, caving, sand yachting, archery and assault courses. With the contrasting terrain you can opt for rough and tough terrain when it comes to biking or gentler country paths and seaside strolls when walking.

It is home to some fantastic attractions including, the National Botanic Garden of Wales that was opened in 2000 and was the first of its type to be designed in Britain in over 200 years. It is definitely a garden for a new era encompassing everything from Mediterranean flora to conventional Welsh varieties, inventive landscaping and amazing architecture. The focal feature of the gardens is the Great Glasshouse created by Sir Norman Foster, it is the world's biggest single span glasshouse. The gardens will bombard all your senses with the abundance of scents and colours that surround you. Meanwhile, just a short drive away is Aberglasney Gardens, these stunning 16th and 17th century gardens have been devised to amalgamate six different garden spaces in its 10 acres of grounds. It is considered to be one of the UK's foremost successful and interesting restoration projects and during its transformation it uncovered some fascinating features such as a unique Elizabethan/Cloister and a unusual parapet walk. Another interesting aspect to these gardens is the winter garden that has been built amongst the damaged courtyard of the mansion house and contains many exotic varieties that fragrance the air with their scents and provide a carpet of dense greenery. Hywel Dda Centre is certainly worth the visit. It is a garden that was designed in testament to one of the great Welsh kings and the legal code that he formulated that remained in force until the Act of Union in 1536. The six interrelated gardens showcase abstracts of these laws depicted on slate plaques. Meanwhile, the Interpretive Centre contains a continual exhibition concerning Hywel and the Law.

For those cultural seekers there is an abundance of places of interest, where you can delve into the past and learn about the rich industrial, cultural and agricultural past of the region. The historic houses tell their own stories and allow visitors to get a feel of what like was like and see some of their stunning gems. Where to start will be the difficult decision, certainly worth a visit is Carmarthenshire County Museum, here the legend of Merlin the Wizard is very much alive, many of the fables centreing around Merlin and King Arthur are linked to Carmarthen. The stump of the old oak tree referred to in stories is housed here together, with a host of our attractions pertaining to the area. At Parc Howard Museum you can delve into the history of the tinplate, at one time Llanelli was the tinplate capital of the world producing 50% of the worlds supply of tinplate and earning the nickname of “Tinopolis”. The museum is found in the Parc Howard Museum, an imposing building situated in gorgeous parkland. The house tells the story of its hey-day, consists of a display of the Stepney Spare Wheel, one of the first spare wheels built for cars in the early years of motoring. The wheels were built by the Davies Brothers in 1904 and subsequently sold worldwide. In addition it is home to the biggest collection of Llanelly Pottery and contains paintings telling the story of the town's busy past and showcases works of local artists. The National Wool Museum, was strongly involved in the wool industry and was responsible for producing blankets, bedcovers, shawls and socks that were sold locally and worldwide. This exciting museum is in a restored listed mill building with historic machinery and you can even have a go at spinning. Kidwelly Industrial Museum again deals with the history of the tinplate, being a former Tinplate Works originally established in 1737 and employing hundreds of people until its demise in 1941 when it was officially closed. For a while the building was used for storage but the original machinery remained and is today on display. West Wales Museum of Childhood will take you on a trip down memory lane. The museum is crammed with an individual collection full of memorabilia. The museum contains the standard collection of teddies, dolls, cars and trains in addition, there is a vast exhibit of costumes, a schoolroom and some 10,000 exhibits from the past. The museum is positioned in 12 acres of stunning countryside in traditional stone Welsh farm buildings.

Wales most prominent literary figure Dylan Thomas had roots in Carmarthenshire and the region evoked him to write some of his best works including Under Milk Wood and Fern Hill. Dylan lived and worked from his Boathouse that afforded him amazing views across the sandy edges of Carmarthen Bay. The Boathouse is now a heritage centre consisting of audio visual presentations, original furnishings and memorabilia, a viewing platform and terrace. It is not difficult to see why this area gave him his inspiration.

Ffos Las Race Course, is the newest home to Welsh horse racing. In July it is scheduled to host a National Hunt that will include a interesting mix of jumps and flat races.

When it comes to eating and drinking you will be amazed with the great food on offer. The lands, rivers and estuaries of Carmarthenshire supply the best provisions in the land. Some of the local specialities include, sewin from the Towy; salt marsh lamb from Laugharne; Carmarthen ham and farm cured bacon; locally sourced beef, poultry, fresh fruit and vegetables, traditional seafood and award-winning cheeses. The food you will eat is literally from farm to fork and this is evident in the taste. When it comes to eating establishments you will be spoilt for choice from family run restaurants, bistros, tea shops, cafes, traditional pubs and fine dining.

Throughout the year there is a host of organised events, celebrations or festivals taking place, from farmer markets, here you can taste the freshness of the locally grown produce, craft markets where you can get a special souvenir, festivals, such as walking and biking, then there is the Dragon Festival that occurs in July, the Llandeilo Fawr Music and Flower Festival, there are Christmas fairs, antique fairs and even Wales answer to Mardi Gras in Ammanford. Theatres are found throughout the county and host a range of plays and shows from local productions to drama, musicals, pantomimes and operas.

When you come to Carmarthenshire you will be greeted with a warm welcome or croeso, as it is referred to locally. From stunning scenery, interesting attractions, award winning beaches and first class food, this unique destination has it all and caters to all ages and tastes. Regardless of your reason for the visit you will leave you with fond memories and wanting to return for more.