Carmarthenshire

 Carmarthenshire Is known as The Garden of Wales

Make Carmarthenshire YOUR holiday destination this year. See breathtaking mountains, travel through green, lush landscapes and visit secluded, ancient forests and our vast expanses of sandy golden beaches. Meander beside our picturesque rivers, explore one our castles and picnic in our magical gardens.

Food and Drink

Sample our fine local produce such as River Tywi sewin (salmon), Laugharne salt marsh lamb, the unique flavor of Carmarthenshire Ham and crunch Parsons Pickles.  Try locally harvested laverbread, some world-beating local champion cheeses, and locally sourced seafood.

Delicious salt marsh lamb

A warm welcome waits for you in our bustling local market halls in Llanelli and the handsome market town of Carmarthen.  They are packed with goodies such as poultry, lamb, beef, and pork from local farms, traditionally made faggots, baskets of homegrown vegetables and make sure you try delicious home-made treats such as w

Welshcakes and slices of bara brith. The green lush agricultural land and network of rivers and estuaries is the key to Carmarthenshire's gastronomic success.  Also, try local butcher in Llandovery Dai Matthews for Cambrian lamb, Welsh black beef and some of the most delicious homemade pork sausages you have ever tasted, perfect for the barbecue if you are renting a self-catering cottage.

Eating Out in Carmarthenshire

Many of our local pubs and restaurants are proud to have season county goodies on their daily menu. Try some Carmarthenshire real ale. Many of our pubs and restaurants offer the finest real ales. The county's boutique hotels, restaurants, cafés, and gastropubs take pride in sourcing local food and drink to relax in a traditional inn or soak up the seaside atmosphere on the coast.  

Carmarthenshire's Coastline

There’s a lot more to Carmarthenshire than just its gorgeous green countryside, we have some of the most glorious sandy beaches in Europe.

One of Europe's longest stretches of sandy beach.  Look east to where historical land speed records were attempted and west where you will see dramatic cliffs, rock pools, and some wild cliff top paths.   Pendine was used to practice the D-Day landings over half a century ago.  Its pure waters provide massive cockle beds where the harvest of this local delicacy continues year round.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h8xQzTzJbdQ#t=13


Laugharne was immortalized by the words " fishing boat-bobbing sea.." by poet Dylan Thomas. His delightful writing eyrie perches on the edge of the River Taf estuary and is open to the public.   Sip tea and homemade cakes while looking out over the place that inspired some of his finest works.  No wonder he "got off the bus and never left"(www.dylanthomasboathouse.com) Tuck a book of his poetry in your picket and allow in his footsteps around the castle and pubs once frequented by Thomas. Stop off at one of the fine eating places or take a stroll along scenic wooded walks that overlooking the river and out to sea.  ( Google Map »)


Visit the still surviving monumental Great Gatehouse of the 12th century Norman castle that looks down across the sands and over to the village ol Llansteffan that became so popular in Victorian and Edwardian times.  Stroll along the secluded sandy beach of Scott’s Bay. 

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Across the estuary from Llansteffan and tucked away at the mouth of the River Tywi you will find Ferryside, home to the River Towy yacht Club.  Once the center of the narrow sandy beach was once the center of the Carmarthen Bay cockle picking industry.  These days visitors can still arrive by train at the railway station (London to Fishguard route).   One of the very best ways to view the estuary is from the train.

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This beach is popular for fishing and walking.  Walkers pass by World War 2 gun emplacements and other Royal Ordnance Structures now classed as historic buildings. From here head on inland to explore the Pembrey Country Park and forest

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FR2lPr2Fw0E

15 miles of the coastline that fringes the Loughor estuary has over the past ten years been transformed into a unique array of wildlife habitats, attractions and leisure facilities.  Several stretches of golden shoreline include Burry Port Sands, Llanelli Beach, and Machynys.  Right in the heart of the Millennium Coastal Park is a superb 450 berth marina with a perfect mix of leisure facilities. 


Discover Carmarthenshire