Things to do in West Wales
Picton Castle
Picton Castle comprises 40 acres of some of the most beautiful woodland gardens and grounds in West Wales. The estate is situated close to the Cleddau Estuary, known locally as the ‘hidden waterway’.
Picton Castle is a most unusual ancient building being in design half fortified manor house and
Dryslwyn Castle
This medieval castle is on a promontory hilltop above the Towy Valley, near the more substantial ruins of Dynefwr Castle. It probably dates to the mid-thirteenth century, and was previously linked to the Welsh princes and the kingdom of Deheubarth in the 12th century, including Rhys ap Gruffudd. The
Gwili Steam Railway
There’s something about travelling by steam. It brings a nostalgic smile to our older visitors and young children are fascinated by the sight and sound of a coal fired steam engine.
Stop off at the Gwili Steam Railway and remember when life went at a gentler place. Just outside Carmarthen town yo
Manorbier Castle
Pretty wild flowers grow within the cracks in the walls of this Norman castle, a stones throw from the sea and a beautiful unspoilt beach, set within in an idyllic valley in some of the most scenic parts of Pembrokeshire. Arrive at the castle to see fine views over Manorbier Bay. Come face to face w
Carmarthen Castle
This important Norman castle is near Carmarthen town centre and dates mainly to the early 12th century, at a time when the Roman town walls were still standing. Today, only a few remains can be explored, but it is still well worth a visit, with good views from the top of a surviving tower and motte.
Colby Woodland Garden
Colby Woodland Garden is home to one of the best collections of rhododendrons and azaleas in Wales. It is an 8 acre garden set in a tranquil and secluded valley which offers a variety of walks along open and wooded pathways and down to a sandy beach. In addition to the beautiful woodland garden ther
©NTPL/Andrew Butler
The Silver Mountain Experience
Steeped in myths and legends, high in the ancient Cambrian Mountains, the Silver Mountain Experience has tumbling streams, mysterious forests and long abandoned mine workings that will take you on a journey through the mists of time.
The site has recently been completely redeveloped into a thril
Upton Castle Gardens and Medieval Chapel
The 35 acres of gardens surround the ancient Upton Castle and include a magnificent display of Rhododendrons, Camellias, Magnolias and many other rare trees and shrubs in the Arboretum. There are also a formal rose garden, herbaceous borders a Victorian walled garden and a woodland walk to the es
Brecon Mountain Railway
Brecon Mountain Railway is one of the most popular railways in Wales. Travel in one of our all weather observation coaches behind a vintage steam locomotive, through beautiful scenery, into the Brecon Beacons National Park, along the full length of the Taf Fechan Reservoir to Dol-y-Gaer on one of th
Museum of Internal Fire
The museum, dedicated to the internal combustion engine, includes many examples of early British oil engines, gas turbines, petrol and diesel.
Many of these preserved engines are working, thus allowing visitors the opportunity to appreciate the sound and feel of the engines at work, evoking a f
Cilgerran Castle
High over a gorge of the River Teifi, so close to the edge that large parts of the outer wall have fallen, Cilgerran Castle presents to the landward side two massive round towers built of the thin slatey stone available. These were the key defences because the castle stands on a promontory between t
St Non's Chapel
Set high on a clifftop and surrounded by green fields and stone walls, this evocative monument looks out across the bright blue waters of St Non’s Bay and the broad sweep of St Bride’s Bay beyond. Once an important pilgrimage site, it is thought to be the oldest Christian building in Wales. Take a l
© Thruxton CC-BY-3.0
Dylan Thomas Boathouse, Laugharne
Ten minutes from Laugharne, the Boathouse was home to Dylan Thomas for the last four years of his life. With views across the Taf estuary where seabirds, seals and otters make their home, the Boathouse has a tearoom, exhibition room, furnished parlour, shop and facilities. Above it was the Writing S
Camera Obscura, Aberystwyth
Currently the largest camera obscura in the world, this fascinating attraction is part of a recreated Victorian pleasure park. It consists of a 14 inch lense, with 360 degrees of view around 1000s of square miles of Welsh land and sea, all reflected into a circular viewing gallery below the camera.
Strata Florida Abbey
Strata Florida (‘Vale of Flowers’) is located in a picturesque valley and is the site of a 12th century Cistercian Abbey whose ruins are now in the care of Cadw: Welsh Historic Monuments. There are ancient woodlands to be found there, hillforts, homes and plenty of other glimpses into the past. Ther
Cadw. Crown Copyright.
Tenby Museum and Art Gallery
Tenby Museum is the oldest independent museum in Wales, serving the community since 1878, when the National School (built in the 1830s) became vacant, allowing the museum trustees to acquire the building for the collections. The former school building was adapted as a museum by Lewis John, a local
The Creepy Carmarthen Tour
Take a trip back through Carmarthen's "horrible history" and meet murderers and their victims. Visit the sites of grisly executions. Discover dark secrets from bygone days - and find out where the ghosts walk!
Along the way take part in some unusual magical experiments involving ghosts,
Pentre Ifan Burial Chamber
Pentre Ifan is the most impressive and most visited megalith in Wales. This ancient Neolithic burial chamber occupies a hilltop site in a beautiful setting with stunning views over Fishguard Bay and the Preseli Mountains. Dating from around 4000 BC it consists of a tilted capstone, weighing 16 tons,
St Dogmaels Abbey and Coach House
The extensive remains of this abbey lie close to the banks of the River Teifi, near Cardigan, with wall foundations outlining where its impressive features once stood. It was built near the site of the pre-Norman church of Llandudoch. Its library was once famous, and included the 13th-century volume
Cardigan Castle
Cardigan Castle (Castell Aberteifi) is believed to be the first stone castle ever built by a Welshman. To celebrate its completion in 1176, Rhys ap Gruffydd (Lord Rhys) hosted a gathering of bards, musicians and performers: the first Eisteddfod. This was the start of the Welsh tradition of cultural