Some of the hills are steep-sided, with great views from the summit or ridge, but there are plenty of easy to moderate strolls along flat land and also several good walks for families, including the Country Parks: Pembrey, Gelli Aur, Llyn Llech Owain and Sandy Water Park.
The vast Brechfa Forest and Crychan Forest have a network of well-marked paths and cycleways. Coniferous plantations with densely-planted trees standing straight and powerful create a particular tangy freshness in the air. Carmarthenshire also has many deciduous woodlands: some just ancient oaks, but others with a beautiful mixture of trees such as beech, oak, ash and willow. There are lakes, reservoirs, castles and ancient monuments in abundance as well as drovers’ routes and Roman Roads in the area around LlandoveryCarreg Cennen and Dinefwr, near Llandeilo.
Understandably, many of the walks centre on the divine River Towy with its twists and turns and even the odd oxbow lake – for the delight of those who never believed they’d actually see one despite the enticing pictures in the Geography textbooks. Lots of interesting birds can be spotted around the peaceful woodlands and countryside of the heart of Carmarthenshire. There’s an RSPB reserve near Rhandyrmwyn, Gwenffrwd Dinas, and not far away the Wildlife Trust oversees Nant Melyn Reserve. See our page on Birds to see inland in West Wales.
The Teifi Valley
There is much ancient woodland in this area. These woods are significant for nature conservation as they tend to provide viable habitats for more plant and animal species than younger woods. If you are in an ancient woodland there will be species such as Herb Paris (rare), cow wheat (uncommon), bluebell, crab apple, wood spurge (quite common).
Woollen mills in villages of the area thrived in the industrial era of the 19th Century. The parish of Drefach Felindre was known as “the Huddersfield of Wales” and was one of the most prolific in the manufacture of flannel, a cloth which was valuable in providing warm clothing for the coal workers in South Wales and soldiers in the First World War. In the mid-1920s, over 50 mills were operating and many old mills can be seen on the Bargod, Bran and Esgair streams which once provided the power.
The area around Llandysul crosses the county boundary between Ceredigion and Carmarthenshire so you might also like to look at Walks in Ceredigion / Carmarthenshire.
Holiday Cottages in Carmarthenshire
If you are looking for somewhere to stay for your walking holiday in Carmarthenshire, why not take a look at our Carmarthenshire holiday cottages?