Carmarthenshire, Swansea & The Gower Peninsula

Pwlldu Bay & Bishopston valley -
Photo: Nick Andrews CCL

The secret of its success, then and now, is its strategic location on the magnificent Gower Peninsula from where ships and cargos of all kinds can be directed across the Bristol Channel and out into the wider world.



The island-like area bristles with history and excitement even for those families intending to do no more than explore its miles of golden beaches and seaside attractions.

It also boasts many historic sites that range from Neolithic ‘Arthur’s Stone’, ‘Giant’s Cave’ - a burial chamber dating back over 5,000 years – and Paviland Cave, which contained the oldest modern human remains ever found in Britain.
 

The peninsula stretches for only 19 miles yet it boasts 70 bays and beaches.

It was the United Kingdom’s first designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and is a popular haunt for surfers, riders and walkers.

Little has changed over time and there is a host of landscapes, from estuaries and wild moorland to dramatic limestone cliffs.

Oxwich from Nicholaston Burrows -
Photo: Nick Andrews CCL

Shipbuilding began here in the 13th century with the port of Swansea growing to be one of the most important in Britain. Huge quantities of coal were exported while copper was brought in from as far afield as South America. The city also produced fine porcelain and stained glass.
 

Burry Port Harbour - Photo: David Lewis CCL

During the blitz, German bombs reduced most of the Victorian city centre to rubble, with the remarkable Victorian Grand Theatre being one of the few old buildings to escape.

Its Maritime Quarter in Swansea Bay has since been turned into a haven for tourists, bristling with boats, yachts and attractive museums. Wales' National Literature Centre, an observatory, art galleries and a working woollen mill are all here. The Swansea Maritime and Industrial Museum is housed in restored waterfront warehouses and contains varied exhibits including vintage motor vehicles and boats.

Meanwhile, Swansea Museum offers a priceless collection of rare local porcelain as well as a locally discovered dinosaur skeleton.

Its Museum of Egyptian Antiquities has a 4,000-year-old mummy and the second largest collection of Egyptian antiquities outside London.

The Bay area has a number of castles including Oystermouth, which dominates the picturesque Victorian seaside resort of The Mumbles.

Laugharne Castle - Photo: Garth Newton CCL
 

The Dylan Thomas Centre -
Photo: Alan Roberts CCL

Swansea was the birthplace in 1914 of one of Britain’s greatest writers, Dylan Thomas, and has been quick to celebrate his life.

The Dylan Thomas Centre has much memorabilia while a ‘city trail’ takes visitors to various important landmarks, including No 5 Cwmdonkin Drive, where Thomas took his first breath.

He lived in Swansea for 20 years and composed some of his works in nearby Cwmdonkin Park, one of 54 public parks in the region.

Singleton Park contains the city's botanical collection while Plantasia boasts 1,000 varieties of rare and unusual plants in a tropical glass pyramid.
 

Not far from Swansea lies the splendidly atmospheric town of Carmarthen (‘Merlin’s City’) where the Normans built a mighty castle on a crossing point of the River Towy.

Its ruins still dominate parts of the area.

A former Roman settlement called Maridunum, it was once the capital of the ancient tribe called Demetae.

An oak tree here has been carefully preserved because it is associated with Merlin the magician (Myrrdin) who - so it is said - still sleeps beneath Merlin’s Hill. The first modern Welsh eisteddfod was held here in the 15th century.

Rhossili Bay - Photo: Richard Haworth CCL

Carmarthenshire as a whole is known as The Garden of Wales and boasts a coastline replete with fine beaches - notably those at Pendine and Cefn Sidan - while the sleepy seaside town of Laugharne was home to Dylan Thomas. He lived at the Boathouse, now a heritage centre, and is buried at St Martin's Church.


Head for the Tywi valley and you will find some of the most romantic and unspoiled scenery in South Wales. Don’t overlook the glorious National Botanic Garden of Wales, the centrepiece of which is the world’s largest, single span glasshouse.
 

Carreg Cennen Castle - Photo: Cered CCL

The Dan-yr-Ogof caves on the edge of Brecon Beacons National Park form the largest complex of their kind in northern Europe while old Roman gold mines lie close to the village of Pumsaint.




Carreg Cennan Castle, near Llandeilo, is a ‘must see’ attraction. It is built on top of a 300ft crag and offers spectacular views over the Welsh countryside.