Llansteffan Castle, Carmarthenshire
With a natural countryside backdrop to rival any, Swansea Bay’s countryside completes the trinity of city, coast and countryside that adds up to a superb quality of life.
Just minutes away from every village, town and even the city of Swansea itself, lies a rural environment offering residents and visitors alike the chance to be at one with nature. The surrounding countryside is simply stunning and is the perfect foil to the innumerable water based activities along the coast. Just a few miles inland you will see nature at its best – woodlands, meadows, winding country lanes, hills, moors, forests, river valleys, wetlands and deep gorges – all there to marvel at and enjoy in whichever way suits you.
The Gower peninsula, just to the west of Swansea city, was recognised back in 1956 as the UK’s first Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and remains one of the most breathtaking swathes of stunning countryside and coast in the UK today. If pedal power is your thing you will be spoilt for choice. Clear your head and free your mind on sweet rural lanes through the lush Gower countryside, on cross country sections of the National Cycle Network or along the dedicated cyclepath at the Millennium coastal park in Llanelli which features a unique array of attractions linked together by a stunning 14 mile traffic-free coastal path/cycleway stretching from Pembrey Country Park to The National Wetland Centre of Wales at Penclacwydd.
For something a little less chilled out, (but no less liberating!) head to Afan Forest Park, Neath. Located in one of the most beautiful valleys in South Wales, Afan Forest Park is an area of 11,000 hectares, mostly woodland and part of the Valleys Forest- the largest urban forest in Europe. Nine waymarked walks and a long cycleway lead you to some breathtaking vistas of the whole Swansea bay region. For the more adventutrous amongst you, the park is known globally for its world class mountain bike trails. The valley has been transformed into over 60 miles of singletrack mountain bike heaven. It’s the ideal place to feel the adrenaline rush and leave the stresses of life behind. In fact, Afan Forest Park was the only UK trail destination to feature in “The ten best places to ride before you die” by What Mountain Bike Magazine! Mountain bikers are well catered for too at Brechfa Forest, one of Carmarthenshire’s best kept secrets. Dramatic views and deep valleys offer enthusiasts a great (sometimes muddy!) experience.
Sgwd yr Eira
Prefer two feet to two wheels? Ramblers and more adventurous hill-climbers will be thrilled by the natural delights throughout the region; from gentle riverside paths to deep gorges, challenging hilltops and steep mountains. The Black Mountains with their glacial lakes, are part of the Brecon Beacons National Park, but lie handily in Carmarthenshire. In the Vale of Neath the deep gorges of the rivers Mellte, Hepste and Nedd Fechan, between the villages of Pontneddfechan and Ystradfellte, provide varied opportunities for both the casual and more experienced walker and are home to waterfalls for which the region is famous. Many of the falls are spectacular, and the colours of the beautiful surrounding countryside mean that they are well worth visiting several times through the seasons as the natural backdrop changes colour dramatically. One of the most famous waterfalls is Sgwd yr Eira which attracts more than 160,000 visitors a year.
Margam Country Park, set in 1000 acres, not only offers splendid landscapes, architecture, rich heritage and a cultural past but is also host to many events throughout the year – from craft and country shows to literature days. The park is home to one of the best deer herds in Britain, dating back to Norman times. The magnificent 18th Century Orangery and the Tudor-gothic style Victorian Mansion House, 12th Century Chapter house and ornamental gardens are enjoyed by young and old alike.
Aberglasney Gardens
Carmarthenshire is often known as the ‘Garden of Wales’, due to its rolling beautiful countryside and associated flora and fauna. From the verdant pastures of the Vale of Twyi to the mountains of ‘Wild Wales’ Carmarthenshire is green to its roots.
It’s home to world class gardens such as the National Botanic Garden of Wales and Aberglasney House, and delightful market towns and rural villages where traditional values and genuine hospitality are often combined with contemporary style and chic living.
With rolling green countrsyide that goes on forever, the occasional mystical castle, and long, long, sandy beaches the list of available activities is endless! Carmarthenshire offers a whole raft of other activities to get your pulse racing – from paintballing at Cenarth, Wales’ leading paintballing site, to golf at the Machynys Peninsula Golf and Country Club.
Carreg Cennen Castle
Carmarthenshire is steeped in legends of King Arthur and Merlin the Magician. Visit one of many legendary castles such as medieval Kidwelly and Dinefwr or Carreg Cennen, an unforgettable ‘eagle’s nest’ perched on a precipice overlooking the Black Mountain, and you’ll feel the history and magic of the places wrap themselves around you. Legendary fact or fiction? You decide!
Swansea Bay’s countryside provides a continually changing, but always beautiful, backdrop to life – and whether you want it to calm, energise or exhilarate you, the options for enjoying it are endless….. and it’s all here, right on our doorstep.
