Llandovery
Llandovery which is just 5 miles from Woodland View is a busy market town and shopping centre. The town has Roman origins whilst the remains of a Norman castle stand above the banks of the River Bran. The town was an important assembly point for the drovers and their livestock. This trade led to David Jones to establish the famous drovers bank, the Bank of the Black Ox, in 1799 and is now Lloyds Bank. This is an excellent heritage centre with displays of local history and Red Kites.
Read more about Llandovery here.
(5 miles, post code: SA20 8DU, Map)
Aberglsney Gardens
Spend the day at the quite breathtaking and romantic gardens at Aberglasney near Llandeilo. One of Wales finest, made famous by the BBC television series “A garden lost in time” which followed its remarkable restoration. A botanical paradise with an Elizabethan Cloister Garden at its heart. 10 acres of magnificent gardens to explore including enchanting woodland and colourful walled gardens. Garden shop, indoor tropical garden and tea room.
Read more about Aberglasney Gardens here.
(17 miles, post code: SA32 8QH, Map)
Cardigan Bay Marine Wildlife Centre
Enjoy a great day out at Cardigan Bay to see the Dolphins. Cardigan Bay Marine Wildlife Centre is a great place to visit when you are in New Quay; learn how to spot marine wildlife such as dolphin, porpoise and Atlantic grey seals all run by volunteers.
In 2016 the centre celebrated its 20th year of working in marine conservation and held a special event in New Quay with a World Record Attempt!
BBC star Iolo Williams joined the centre with 335 volunteers to create the world’s largest human superpod in the shape of a dolphin! #Superpod.
Read more about the Cardigan Bay Marine Wildlife Centre here.
(31.5 miles, post code: SA45 9PS, Map)
Llyn y Fan Fach
Named as one of the worlds ultimate sites by tourist guide lonely planet, this beautiful lake in the Brecon Beacons. it is surrounded by the steep escarpments of the Carmarthen Fans. This is a super waterside walk through a particularly beautiful section of the Brecon Beacons. The walk starts at a parking area north of the lake and takes you along the Afon Sawddle to the lovely Llyn y Fan Fach. A folklore is connected with the lake, known as the Lady of the Lake.
(18 miles, post code: SA19 9UN, Map)
Dolaucothi Gold Mines
The Romans discovered that there was gold in “them there hills” of Wales 2000 years ago and mining at Dolaucothi continued until the 1930s. There are two walking tours on offer at Dolaucothi, the Roman Rhine tour (Dogs welcomed by arrangement) and the Victorian underground mine tour. Each tour will take you through the evolution of mining at Dolaucothi over the centuries.
Read more about the Dolaucothi Gold Mines here.
(5 miles, post code: SA19 8US, Map)
Lampeter
Lampeter is an old market town that is now famous to housing one of the oldest universities in Britain. The town has remained largely unspoiled since its days as an agricultural centre and retains homespun charm that is proud of its heritage, the legacy attested to by the regular cattle markets, horse fairs and in the 18th century Lampeter was an important gathering place for drovers. The University of Wales, Trinity St David was founded in 1822 on land gifted by John Scandrett Harford under the auspices of the Anglican clergy. The University provides a town with a dynamic, diverse and vibrant population catered for by a wide selection of bars and restaurants.
Read more about Lampeter here.
(14 miles, post code: SA48 7DU, Map)
Abereron
Abereron is a picture postcard pretty harbour town recently voted the ‘Best Place in Wales’ by the Royal Town Planning Institute. The graceful lines of Regency architecture of the houses and commercial buildings along the harbour are distinctive feature. The town and harbour were developed in the early 1800s by a local entrepreneur, The Rev Alban Jones-Gwynne, who obtained an act of Parliament to develop one of the first planned towns in Wales. Once a busy fishing port which also saw families emigrate to the New World, Abereron today is one of Ceredigion’s best loved holiday resorts with fashionable places to stay and eat.
Read more about Abereron here.
(27 miles, post code: SA46 0AY, Map)
Dinefwr House Country Park
Dinefwr is an 18th-century landscaped Country Park, with historic Newton House at its centre. Owned by the National Trust, it is the only parkland national nature reserve in Wales. It has over 300 trees at least 400 years old, plus ancient pastureland, landscaped valley views and a chance to see fallow deer and rare white park cattle throughout the year. The estate slopes down to the level fields of the River Tywi floodplain.
Read more about Dinefwr Country Park here.
(15 miles, post code: SA19 6RT, Map)
Dinefwr Castle
Situated on a majestic hilltop location above the beautiful Tywi valley, the Dinefwr Castle occupies a place of great affection in their minds and traditions of the Welsh people. This site is associated with the princes of Deheubarth, the kingdom in South West Wales. Head up to the castle for fabulous views over the Tywi valley.
Read more about Dinefwr Castle here.
(15 miles, post code: SA19 6RT, Map)
Llyn Brianne Reservoir
Enjoy a walk or cycle ride around this beautiful reservoir. Constructed in the 1960s the spectacular Llyn Brianne dam was designed to control the flow of the river Towy. The dam is the UK’s tallest, standing at a height of 91 m. A hydroelectric generating station generates 4.60 MW of electricity. The capacity of the dam is 14,200 million gallons. The normal flow is 1.5 million gallons a day.
Read more about Llyn Brianne here.
(11 miles, post code: SA20 8PG, Map)
National Botanic Gardens
The National Botanic Garden of Wales, near Llanarthne in Carmarthenshire, is set in a 568 acre parkland which has horticultural displays, a butterfly house, a Japanese garden, flower meadows, lakes and walks. The Garden’s centre piece is the Great Glasshouse, the largest single span glasshouse in the world designed by world-famous architects Norman Foster and Partners.
Read more about the National Botanic Gardens here.
(23 miles, post code: SA32 8HN, Map)
THE HEART OF WALES LINE
The Heart of Wales Line is a spectacular rural railway between Swansea and Shrewsbury. The seven days/week train service is operated by Transport for Wales. Much loved by day trippers and walkers, the line also provides a vital transport link for lively rural communities and towns across Mid Wales and the Borders.
From transporting freight in the early days and soldiers in WW1 to providing a vital public transport link today, the Heart of Wales Line has played a major role in community life. The railway line was built to transport coal from the deep coal mines in the Welsh valleys up North to the burgeoning factories of the industrial revolution. It was one of the few rural railway lines remaining and is also called the Central Wales Line.
The Heart of Wales Line links to major and urban routes across the UK Network via Crewe, Shrewsbury, Craven Arms, Llanelli, Swansea and Cardiff.
*** 2018 is a special year in which The Heart Of Wales Line celebrates 150 years ***
Read more about the The Heart Of Wales Line here.
(5 miles to Llandovery, post code: SA20 0BE, Map)
PENDLEBURYS BOOK SHOP
Originally from London, Pendleburys Bookshop is a unique shop located in the Welsh hills just outside Llandovery with thousands of books on all subjects. Pendleburys sells books all over the world and is a fascinating place to visit.
Note: Please ring before visiting.
Read more about Pendleburys Bookshop here.
(0.9 miles, post code: SA19 8NY, Map)
Rated 5-Stars by Visit Wales
