Expect jaw-dropping beaches, cool castles and a whole lot of fun in Carmarthenshire
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window)
Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
OZZY, a 1kg Bengal eagle-owl, swoops through the Welsh woodland dotted with brightly painted toadstool fairy houses to land gracefully on my three year old's gloved arm.
'Again!' Raffy shouts, with a grin almost as big as Ozzy's head.
Sign up for Scottish Sun
newsletter
Sign up
8
The Taf Estuary, Laugharne, Carmarthenshire
8
Hide and seek your way round Dinefwr Castle
It's safe to say, the 90-minute flying experience with expert Alex and three owls – including the tiny but speedy Frodo and barn owl Allan – has gone down a treat.
Experiences cost £65 per adult, £30 for over-fives (Britishbirdofpreycentre.co.uk).
We're in Carmarthenshire, a county in South Wales that most tourists drive through on their way to Pembrokeshire – more fool them.
The wide, sandy beaches here hug the coastline for miles, majestic castles perch on hilltops and local delicacies are plentiful.
A Bug's Life
First to win over the kids is Llanelli Wetland Centre with the pinkest (and smelliest!) flamingos I've ever seen, thanks to our visit coinciding with mating season.
But the highlight is undoubtedly a minibeast hunt, after which volunteer Eric pops the children's finds – a millipede, slug and spider – under a microscope and gives us a zoology lesson way more interesting than I ever had at school.
Who knew slugs poo out of their heads? Entry costs £11.15 per adult, £7.20 for over-threes (Wwt.org.uk/wetland-centres/llanelli).
Home for the week is Dylan Coastal Resort, where our swish three-bedroom spa lodge has all the mod-cons and a hot tub to soak up stunning vistas of the Taf Estuary.
On-site is the floor-to-ceiling glass-fronted Milk Wood Spa with yet more gorgeous views of the ever-changing tide from its sauna, steam room, indoor pool and alfresco hydrotherapy pool.
Later, a wander downhill brings us into pretty Laugharne, the town made famous by poet Dylan Thomas.
We follow the scent of wood-fired deliciousness to the sun-dappled courtyard of Ty Glo and head inside to its tiki-inspired interior.
Underrated towns you need to visit
The vibe is super-family-friendly, with a brilliant basket of games to borrow and fantastic food.
The king prawn, mango, chilli and coriander cocktail with gyoza crisps is exquisite and the goat's cheese bonbons are the definition of moreish, both £10.
Pizza perfection comes in the Ultimate Hawaiian (sorry, Italians) with its ham hock, chargrilled pineapple, jalapeños, fresh corn and onion.
We also dig the Lamb-orgini – roast lamb, caramelised onion, feta and mint yoghurt and the Wild Hog, smothered in wild boar ragù with hog salami and piquanté peppers, £17.50 each (Browns.wales/ty-glo).
Castle on the hill
Wales has more castles per square mile than any other country in the world, so we picnic on leftover pizza the next day in the dreamy grounds of Dinefwr Castle (Cadw.gov.wales).
Dinefwr delivers ramparts, towers and plenty of hidden nooks for hide and seek, plus there's a parkland with deer and roaming long-horned White Park cattle – residents here since the 9th century.
8
It shore is nice at Dylan Coastal Resort
Credit: Supplied
8
Poppy enjoys the sun and sand at Pembrey beach
Credit: Supplied by Catherine Bennion Pedley
Parking costs £5 for non-National-Trust members, while castle and parkland entry is free.
During our days exploring this enchanting county, Wright's Food Emporium proves a smart stop-off.
The deli is stuffed with local goodies and the pork belly cubano – with its positively obscene slabs of pork belly layered with ham, cheddar, pickles and sriracha mayo inside the fluffiest of ciabatta, £14.50 – is possibly the best sandwich I've ever devoured (Shop.wrightsfood.co.uk).
I'm also a firm believer in elevenses, so I'm thrilled to discover that the Gwili Steam Railway serves Welsh elevenses on board.
We sip tea (hot choc for the kids) and feast on Welsh cakes and bara brith (fruit loaf) as the train, operated by the sweetest fanatics, trundles past grazing animals and the crystal-clear Gwili river.
We hop off to explore an old mail train and ride the miniature railway, before returning to base in Carmarthen.
Tickets cost from £13 per person (Gwili-railway.co.uk).
Cool runnings
One of my favourite memories from childhood holidays in Wales is whizzing down a bobsleigh-like toboggan ride, and the country's longest is at Pembrey Country Park, a 500-acre haven of beach, woodland and grassland.
Soon, husband Andy and I are racing down the metal track on sleds, Poppy and Raffy on our laps squealing with delight.
8
Tuck into terrific dishes at Ty Glo where the vibe is super-family-friendly
Credit: Instagram
8
The Gwili Steam Railway serves Welsh elevenses on board
Credit: John Jones
Three rides cost £7.50 (Pembreycountrypark.wales).
The day flies by just as fast, as we follow a bear trail through the pine forest, clamber over dunes and fly kites on the golden sands.
A local tipped me off about Pantri Lolfa, a gorgeous cafe nearby, so we're fuelled by excellent coffee and gooey brownies.
Later, as the sky turns crimson, citrus-cured salmon with seaweed, pickled cucumber and a champagne sauce, £11.50, plus crab tagliatelle, £24, make for a tasty tea at Dylan Coastal Resort's Milk Wood House.
Horse play
I always love the idea of horse riding, only to usually spend the entire trek afraid I'll be bucked off.
But I've never felt as relaxed in the saddle as I do riding Apache at the excellent, family-run Marros Riding Centre.
8
The British Bird of Prey Centre based in Carmarthenshire
Credit: Instagram
8
Catherine Bennion-Pedley in Carmarthenshire
Credit: Catherine Bennion-Pedley
Raffy rides Woody, a fuzzy ginger Shetland, while six-year-old Poppy gets Harry, a grey Welsh mountain pony and Andy, an Irish cob named Hercules.
Having learned the basics – start, stop, steer – we ride through the farm's ancient woodland and I'm pretty certain the kids are now dreaming of owning a pony.
A one-hour trek costs from £42 per person (Marros-farm.co.uk).
Our last night is spent in Laugharne's Dexters at Browns, the older sister of Ty Glo and a steak-lover's dream.
Andy and I splash out on 40-day aged chateaubriand with dauphinoise potatoes, creamed spinach with rarebit topping and béarnaise sauce, £76, paired with glasses of primitivo, £7.75, as the kids tuck into mini rump meals, £12 each (Browns.wales).
It's certainly an upgrade from my mum's meat and potato pie, often squished from the long journey down in the boot of our car as a kid.
But just as those precious memories hold a special place in my heart, retracing family holidays with my own little ones now holds a special place, too.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Wales Online
an hour ago
- Wales Online
This sandy Welsh beach has a wood-fired sauna with the dreamiest sea view I've ever seen
This sandy Welsh beach has a wood-fired sauna with the dreamiest sea view I've ever seen This authentic Finnish-style wood-fired sauna has one of the best sea views in Wales Set just above the golden sands is an authentic Finnish-style wood-fired sauna with a full panoramic window that beautifully frames the ocean view (Image: Portia Jones ) Wales' craggy coastline is amongst the most beautiful in the world and has a vast range of sandy shores, secluded bays and pebble-strewn beaches with clear waters for swimming. From Pembrokeshire's golden sand beaches and tiny coves to the windswept Llŷn Peninsula and the Vale of Glamorgan's Jurassic coastline, you are truly spoiled for choice. One of my favourite beaches is a sand and rock surfing hub in South Wales. Here, you'll find golden sand, a brilliant beach café, and a sauna with a sea view. Porthcawl's Rest Bay is a popular spot for swimming, surfing, and powerboating and attracts vast numbers of visitors, especially in the busy summer season. The beach is part of a glorious sweep of coastline that runs from Sker Point to Ogmore, with Porthcawl sandwiched between Port Talbot and Ogmore-by-Sea. There's loads of sandy space to stretch out on, though a few rocky patches mean you'll want to watch your toes. If you fancy a wander, you can head off across the Newton Burrows dunes and trek to the mouth of the River Ogmore. From superstar gigs to cosy pubs, find out What's On in Wales by signing up to our newsletter here Rest Bay is a popular surf spot (Image: Wales Online ) Article continues below Porthcawl's links to golf also have a long history. Here, a Cardiff businessman set up a nine-hole course on Locks Common in 1895. Eventually, it moved to its current position, grew into Wales's first 18-hole course, and gained Royal status in 1909. It has since hosted major tournaments, including the Senior Open, where Bernhard Langer won in 2014. By the early 1900s, charabancs and trains were delivering eager day-trippers to the coast, and by the 1960s, Porthcawl was buzzing with surfboards and speedboats. One of the UK's oldest surf clubs was born here in 1969, and the town's strong lifeguard tradition soon followed. Today, Rest Bay is still riding that wave literally and figuratively, with a brand-new watersports centre leading a fresh chapter in its seaside story. I had come to Rest Bay to try one of the shoreline's newest additions, a wellness escape with an enviable view (Image: Portia Jones ) I had come to Rest Bay to try one of the shoreline's newest additions, a wellness escape with an enviable view. Set just above the golden sands is an authentic Finnish-style wood-fired sauna with a full panoramic window that beautifully frames the ocean view. Unwind with pals or newfound friends in the steamy warmth as the waves roll in, the salty air mixing with the distinctive scent of burning wood. It's restorative, social, and distinctly un-British in the best possible way. This is Hikitalo Sauna, the brainchild of William Jenkins, who's helping to bring a touch of Nordic soul to the Welsh coast with bespoke saunas now at two locations, Rest Bay and Sandy Bay. Hikitalo is part of a small but growing sauna movement in Wales, focusing on physical health and deep, meaningful connection with fellow wellness converts. Its origin story is particularly compelling as William's passion for saunas didn't come from a straightforward business plan but from a personal crisis. 'My journey with all this started with a mental breakdown I experienced three years ago,' he tells me. 'I was burnt out, going through a breakup and unhappy with where I was in life, so I decided to hit the road. I went travelling to do a bit of surfing and a bit of soul searching too.' William's path took a meaningful turn in Mexico, the first stop on that healing journey. "I met a Finnish bloke in a sweat lodge I'd signed up for,' he recalls. 'He was a massive inspiration.' Together, the duo explored the local Temazcals, bonding over the shared love of saunas. That unique connection sparked a deeper curiosity, setting him off on a year-and-a-half-long quest through 14 countries, where he visited more than 70 saunas. 'After I experienced all those, I decided to bring it back, back here to south Wales,' he explains. William's path took a meaningful turn in Mexico (Image: Felipe Sabbag ) What started as personal healing has since evolved into a wider mission: building community, creating space for connection, and harnessing the power of heat and stillness to combat the loneliness so many people feel today. And he's done just that. In the spacious, wood-fired sauna, regulars come to sweat and socialise, reflect, and sometimes say nothing. 'The sauna is like a candle that lights another light. We see laughter in there. We see tears, deep conversations, and sometimes we pure stillness. It's magical.' A real Finnish ethos is at play here: less small talk and more shared presence. 'People have mastered the art of feeling connected to one another without even saying a word. Simply being together in the warmth and listening to the gentle hiss of the löyly, that's enough.' In the spacious, wood-fired sauna, regulars come to sweat and socialise, reflect (Image: Felipe Sabbag ) William believes these communal sweat sessions are more than just good for the pores. 'In today's fast-paced world, it's easy to feel disconnected. Loneliness has become a widespread issue, impacting both mental and physical health. Here in Wales, many people are affected by it. At Hikitalo, we see the sauna as a powerful tool to help change that.' It's certainly a beautiful sentiment and one that feels especially timely. Post-Covid, people are craving spaces that feel both communal and personal. Regulars at Hikitalo are already forming friendships. Summer sauna events and full moon gatherings are in the pipeline. Hikitalo's Sandy Bay location in Hi-Tide's Car Park, Porthcawl (Image: Felipe Sabbag ) While the sauna is great for your body, the social warmth tends to linger. William sees it as an antidote to the decline of traditional third spaces like pubs and community halls where people previously came together. 'New people are looking for new social hubs,' he says. 'And I think sauna has become that. It's already proven in Nordic and Eastern European cultures.' At Hikitalo, that sense of connection is palpable. 'A lot of friendships are being made here,' William adds. 'People meet for the first time in the sauna and end up swapping numbers. Next thing you know, they're out for coffee or a beach walk.' While the emotional warmth of sauna culture is undeniable, the physical benefits are just as compelling. Saunas have long been used to relieve aches, ease tension, and support everything from cardiovascular health to stress relief. For many, it's an almost spiritual ritual, an intentional pause in a world that rarely stops spinning, and I'm here for it. I'll be honest. I'm in my sauna era and was peachy keen to try out this ocean-view sweatbox and have a post-sauna sea swim in the frothing waves of the adjacent Bristol Channel. The ocean view is sublime (Image: Portia Jones ) Despite usually rolling my eyes at anything remotely woo-woo (healing crystals, drum circles, energy healing), I'm convinced that saunas are magic. The healing powers of sweating out all my anxieties and most of last night's wine cannot be overstated. For me, it's less about chasing medical claims and more about switching off. Ignoring the relentless ping of emails and WhatsApp groups, I let the heat do its slow, steady work as I stew in my own thoughts and breathe in the earthy tang of scorched wood and rising steam. Naturally, I brought along my ever-obliging husband, who remains deeply unconvinced by the idea of paying to be slowly poached in a shed. 'So… we're voluntarily sitting in a very hot box?' he asked as we stepped inside, radiating the enthusiasm of a man who'd just been told the local pub only serves kombucha now. But even my sweaty beau couldn't deny the epic setting. The ocean was just beyond the glass, waves rolling in under an uncharacteristically blue sky. We sat in blissful silence, with no buzzing phones, no life admin small talk, and, most importantly, no discussion of who would take the bins out later (definitely not me). My mind floated somewhere between a meditative state and a mild panic about whether my mascara was sliding off my face, as I had, of course, forgotten to remove it. Every pore was open for business. I was sweating from places I didn't even know had sweat glands. (Elbows! Who knew?) But I felt something like peace, or possibly dehydration, in that moment. Either way, it worked. I was full of wellness. Even my husband seemed more chilled, seemingly now sold on the benefits after being promised a post-sauna pint in the swish Rest Bay Cafe. So yes, I'm officially a full-blown sauna girlie now, sweaty, serene, and quietly hoping to return soon for more ocean views and post-sweat beach strolls. Maybe even make a few wellness friends along the way. One day, my sauna people will come. The saunas can accommodate up to 10 guests, with 55-minute private or communal sauna sessions for up to ten guests. You can book here Article continues below
Daily Mirror
an hour ago
- Daily Mirror
Special reason women at front of Wimbledon queue let others move ahead of them
Wimbledon's notorious ticket queue attracts tens of thousands of would-be spectators every year, with only a small proportion of them getting into SW19 each day Linda Jacobs and Aleta Cole, two tennis lovers from Houston, Texas made an epic 5,000-mile journey to join the world-renowned Wimbledon queue, setting up their camp at 10am on Friday. Despite being the first to arrive three days before the championships began, they did something rather extraordinary. Amidst the scorching heat, they began pitching their tent in Wimbledon Park. However, when queue veterans Vicki and Nigel Broad from Neath, South Wales, arrived a few hours later, Linda and Aleta struck up a conversation with them. Realising they were in the presence of seasoned queuers, the American pair graciously allowed the British duo to set up their tent first. Linda, who plays with Aleta on a team called Hotshots back in Houston, told the Express: "We just don't want to be first so we let them go ahead." She admitted that shying away from media attention (due to being first in line) on Monday was part of their strategy, but they also felt it fitting for Brits to lead the queue for their home tournament. Linda added: "It's a British tournament right, so we just felt it was the right thing to do for them to go first. "They have also been here many times before so it was good having them here to tell us what to do - they are the experts and have been extremely helpful." The friends, who plan to stay for three days at the tournament, are eager to watch fellow American Coco Gauff and have praised the queue organisation. "Everything is so beautifully organised and we have been very well looked after," they said. "We have felt completely safe ever since we arrived." The duo from sunny Texas won't be bothered by the expected 35C Wimbledon heat. "This is great for us," Aleta commented. It's actually quite cool for us! We will be fine." For retired nurses Nigel, 59, and Vicki, 57, this isn't a new experience. They're marking their 20th year in the Wimbledon queue, with their first camping trip to the park dating back to 1980. As parents of two and grandparents of four, they've previously made this a family outing, but this time they're here alone. "We have slept out for two weeks before to see as many days as we can as we just love it," Nigel said. "It is the greatest tournament in the world. We would have stayed longer this time but we need to back for our grandson's birthday." They're planning to watch defending champion Carlos Alcaraz, but also intend to cheer on Mimi Xu, the Welsh wildcard facing Emma Raducanu in her opening match. "She's from Swansea, so we have to show our support," Vicki said. Nigel added: "We don't mind who we see though to be honest - Carlos Alcaraz, Katie Boulter - we are just here to watch great tennis." Sisters Suzanne Pyefinch, 59, and Michele Jennings, 57, from Gorleston, Norfolk, have made queuing an annual tradition, having camped out for Wimbledon tickets every year for the last 39 years. Alongside them, fans of Alcaraz from Spain and the USA set up camp in matching red-and-yellow bucket hats in eager anticipation to support the two-time Wimbledon winner. Maria Iniesta, 47, a physician originally from Madrid and now residing in Houston, queued with her family, comprising her husband, sister and three children, aged 13, 16 and 18. Iniesta joked about the British heat, saying: "For us the weather is fine because we're from Spain but we live in Houston. It's been funny to watch the British people sweating - it's been easy for us." The atmosphere of the Wimbledon queue shares more in common with a festival than a sporting event lineup, where fervent fans pitch tents and set up chairs amidst the greenery, hoping to get their hands on coveted last-minute passes. One die-hard fan even went to comical lengths to join the queue, concocting a fake dental emergency to tell his boss. Speaking on condition of anonymity, he said, "I had to take drastic action - anything for a chance to see Alcaraz." With his tale told, he crossed his fingers, hoping not to be spotted by cameras: "Boss is none the wiser but I just need to make sure I don't get caught on the fan-cam."
Scottish Sun
2 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
The Netflix-famous sandy beach an hour from London with ‘excellent' water quality – and it's nowhere near the sea
Plus, the six cleanest beaches in the UK where you can safely swim in the sea this summer SWIM SAFE The Netflix-famous sandy beach an hour from London with 'excellent' water quality – and it's nowhere near the sea Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) NOT FAR from London is a sandy beach with beautiful waters - but surprisingly, it's nowhere near the coast. Frensham Great Pond in Surrey is a Green Flag award-winning site with excellent water quality, making it a great swim spot, without venturing to the beach. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 4 Frensham Great Pond in Surrey has a sandy beach and clean swimming waters Credit: Alamy 4 It's a popular paddling and sailing spot in Farnham Credit: Alamy Frensham Great Pond, found between Farnham and Hindhead, is just an hour and a half drive away from London. The pond is known for its sandy beach and is a popular spot for swimming, sailing and fishing. According to the government website, the water quality at Frensham Great Pond has been "excellent" since 2021. The most recent water sample was taken on June 24, 2025. During the hot weather, Frensham Great Pond can get very busy with families picnicking on the beach and having paddles in the water. But there are times when the pond is quiet - one swimmer wrote on Facebook earlier this month: "Cracking swim at the famous Frensham Ponds in Surrey. Had the whole place to ourselves, bliss!" Another commented: "Lovely place for a stroll. Ideal for families for a swim in the pond. Enjoy the sandy beach with a picnic." A third described it as a "wild fresh water swimming oasis." The pond forms part of the larger Frensham Common, which is about 1,000 acres, including Frensham Little Pond. During the summer months, there is occasional Blue-Green Algae and a sign will go up to warn swimmers about going in - but currently the pond is safe to swim in. This Incredible Pool Is Inside A Former Church 4 Huts were created at Frensham Pond for Snow White and the Huntsman Credit: Alamy However, you can't swim in Frensham Little Pond because it's water quality isn't as good, and it's home to protected wildlife. You might not have visited Frensham Pond in person, but there's a chance you've seen them on the big screen. Frensham Pond has spent some time on both the big and small screen, it appeared in the 1999 film, The Mummy, for a Nile scene. Snow White and the Huntsman, which had a cast including Kristen Stewart, Charlize Theron and Chris Hemsworth, was filmed at Frensham Little Pond too. The woods were used for forest scenes and Frensham Pond for a fishing village with huts being built on the shores. Part of the 1960s classic Carry On Jack was filmed there too, as well as scenes for the fantasy series, The Witcher. Frensham Little Pond was also the setting of Nimue's home village in the Netflix series, Cursed starring Katherine Langford. For any keen coastal swimmers, here are the six cleanest beaches in the UK where you can safely swim in the sea this summer. Plus, here are the three UK beaches named the best in Europe by Tripadvisor this year.
