Activities

CROESO - WELCOME

Llansteffan is home to a ruined castle established in the early twelfth century with views overlooking the River Tywi estuary where it enters Carmarthen Bay. This quiet village has a sandy beach bordering the River and it's surroundings boast magnificent walking country. There are two pubs in Llansteffan, The Castle and the Inn at the Sticks, as well as a boutique hotel nearby with a fine dining restaurant called The Mansion House. There is also a well stocked convenience store/newsagents selling fresh food, wine and souvenirs with a post office open daily. There is also a lovely welcoming tearoom. The village of Llansteffan is 8 miles from the County market town of Carmarthen with many shops, activities and eateries.

New For Summer 2018

A ferry service connecting Llansteffan and Ferryside is set to re-open summer 2018. The unique amphibious new ferry-boat is the first of its kind in the uk. The craft will be able to come ashore due to a design that includes retractable wheels and the service is hoped to run for eight and a half months of the year ultimately extending to a year round service. Passengers may even be able to travel to Tenby in the future. The service will also offer boat trips around Carmarthen Bay. The latest navigation equipment will be used and the fully trained crew will be able to carry 10 people at one time plus dogs in the new vessel.

Carmarthenshire has one of the most spectacular landscapes in Wales - ranging from scenic river routes and historic castles - rolling countryside with mountains, forests and sandy beaches at Llansteffan, Ferryside and Pendine amongst others.

Walkers will be rewarded with many beautiful and varied hikes but cyclists are well catered for too; the Amman Valley Riverside Path is a 14 km traffic free tarmaced path following the valley from Ammanford to Brynaman. The legendary cycle trail provides cycling over a 72.4 km route - a detour to Merlin’s Hill Centre adds a further 5.7 km. Bikes can also be rented at the Pembrey Ski Centre and set out along one of the best traffic free sections of the Celtic Trail.

The village of Laugharne, recently filmed for the BBC “Keeping Faith” is on the opposite side of the Taf River with castle ruins, and was made famous by Dylan Thomas (www.dylanthomasboathouse.com/). The Boathouse where Dylan Thomas wrote is a heritage centre and can be spied from Taf Cottage window. Brown’s Hotel, Dylan Thomas’s favourite drinking den and now a boutique hotel will offer a welcome break for a drink or meal.

History lovers are spoilt for choice with castles from Llansteffan, Laugharne, Carmarthen, Kidwelly, Pembroke, Carreg Cennen, Dryslwyn and Dinefawr

The Millennium Coastal Park at Llanelli covers 22kms of coastline and has many tourist activities and wildlife habitats.

Pembrey Country Park is a haven for walkers and has 550 acres of woodland, a sandy beach Cefyn Sidan, or why not try the dry ski slope, toboggan run or horse riding. Pembrey Motor circuit and afford Las for horse racing are also attractions for tourists.

Travelling a short distance to Brechfa Forest offers a variety of wild and birdlife,

extensive footpaths and mountain bike trails in this ancient woodland.

There are several country parks with grand houses and gardens not least of which is Aberglasney and the National Botanic Gardens of Wales, home to the world’s largest single span glasshouse, birds of prey displays, and a wide variety of indoor and outdoor activities.

A trip into nearby Pembrokeshire gives access to many other pretty seaside towns, Saundersfoot and Tenby and St David’s with its magnificent cathedral. The Welsh coastal path provides spectacular walks short and long with far reaching views giving access to much wild and bird life such as puffins, guillemots, razorbills, Manx shearwaters, as well as seals and dolphins.

A sea safari trip can be arranged to dolphin and wildlife watch, fish, and to visit the islands of Caldey, Skomer, Grassholm and Skokholm.

The coastline also offers opportunities for coasteering, sea kayaking, surfing, canoeing, snorkelling and swimming as well as exploring sea caves and hidden coves.

Both counties offer plenty of activity centres for children of all ages from the Dinosaur Park at Tenby with indoor and outdoor play centres; a high treetops trail, also at Tenby, with zip wires, indoor play centre, 18 hole pitch and putt, paint balling, go karting, zorbing and laser clay shooting.

Also not too far away from the cottage is Folly Farm with zoo and fairground, Oakwood Theme Park featuring over 35 exciting adventures and Manor Wildlife Park supporting endangered species.

For food lovers there is a chocolate factory near Haverfordwest - Wickedly Welsh; Cwm Deri Vineyard and Estate with restaurant and wine tasting, Bethesda Farm and coffee shop offering their own home reared meat, bread and homemade products and local fruit and vegetables. Cwmcerrig Farm Shop and grill restaurant near Cross Hands is Wales’ largest emporium offering on site reared and local produce.

Gwili Steam Railway provides a nostalgic trip enjoying a cream tea on an enchanting steam train. There are also various festival and show days - see the website www.gwili-railway.co.uk

There are so many other activities to enjoy in this beautiful Welsh location - bowling, swimming centres, a theatre and cinema that it will be hard to choose. We hope you take back many happy memories.