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Scottish Sun
28-06-2025
- Scottish Sun
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 ( 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 ( 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 ( 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 ( 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 ( 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 ( 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 ( 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 ( 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 ( 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.
The Irish Sun
28-06-2025
- The Irish Sun
Expect jaw-dropping beaches, cool castles and a whole lot of fun in Carmarthenshire
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. Advertisement 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 ( 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. Advertisement Read More on Travel 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 ( 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. Advertisement Most read in Travel Breaking 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. Advertisement 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 ( 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 ( Advertisement 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. Advertisement 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 ( 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. Advertisement 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 ( 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. Advertisement 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 ( 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. Advertisement 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. Advertisement 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. Advertisement A one-hour trek costs from £42 per person ( 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 ( 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. Advertisement 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. FYI Four-night stays at Dylan Coastal Resort cost from £419 for four people ( Plan your trip at
Daily Express
18-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Express
Fourth Borneo Native Fest May 23 to 25
Published on: Sunday, May 18, 2025 Published on: Sun, May 18, 2025 By: Lorena Binisol Text Size: From left: Paul, Shazrean, Raffy and Juinah during the press conference. Kota Kinabalu: The Borneo Native Festival (BNF) is back for its fourth year, promising an exciting celebration of Borneo's diverse cultures, traditions and heritage. It would be held from May 23 to 25 at Central Market (Pasar Seni) in Kuala Lumpur from 10am to 10pm daily. Advertisement Supported by the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture (Motac), the Festival is a platform for indigenous communities from Sabah and Sarawak living in Kuala Lumpur, local residents and international visitors ahead of Hari Gawai (June 1) in Sarawak and Pesta Kaamatan (May 30-31) in Sabah, two significant festivals marking the rice harvest season. Deputy Minister of Economy Dato Hajah Hanifah Hajar Tun Pehin Sri Hj Abdul Taib is expected to officiate the event, representing the Prime Minister. According to BNF President Raffy Syazwan Arpandi, the festival will feature cultural competitions, performances and exhibitions. One of the highlights is the Miss Ethnic Competition where contestants from various ethnic groups will showcase their traditional attire while sharing their cultural identity. Advertisement The Borneo Cultural Dance Competition will present captivating age-old dances that preserve the folklore and heritage of Sabah and Sarawak. Visitors can also explore locally produced goods such as handwoven textiles, jewellery, organic skincare and handicrafts. Food lovers will enjoy authentic Bornean delicacies like Kek Lapis, Hinava (pickled raw fish), Tuak and Lihing (rice wine), with an array of street food showcasing Bornean flavours. The event will also feature food preparation demonstrations, showcasing Borneo's traditional cuisine. Linopot, a Sabahan delicacy, which is expected to be a crowd favourite this year. 'From the last three events, I noticed visitors always look forward to our traditional food and drinks. This is our highlight this time,' said Raffy, adding Linopot will be among the foods served and demonstrated. For a hands-on experience, arts workshops will offer opportunities to learn traditional weaving, beadwork and pottery-making. Adding to the festivities, the Borneo Beatz Concert will feature a fusion of indigenous sounds and contemporary music, together with performances by Tuni Sundatang. The Mob Dance, a communal dance event, will invite Festival-goers to participate in an inclusive movement experience, fostering unity and engagement. Raffy also emphasised the Festival's commitment in uplifting Sabahan and Sarawakian communities in Kuala Lumpur. Government agencies such as DIDR, Scenic and IDS are involved in promoting local vendors and their products. 'This is a way to introduce our cultures to others while also attracting millennials, locals and tourists alike. 'It will be like a pre-introduction to the Hari Gawai and Pesta Kaamatan celebrations, encouraging visitors to later experience the festivals in Sabah and Sarawak,' said Raffy. Scenic, under the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation Sabah, aimed to provide market access for social entrepreneurs and raise awareness for their products outside Sabah. This year, 11 social entrepreneurs will participate, showcasing crafts, food, beverages and health industry products. Since its inaugural event in 2022, Scenic had been a strong supporter of BNF. IDS representative Paul Canigea emphasised their mission to uplift local entrepreneurs from the grassroots level, providing them exposure to new markets. 'National events like BNF expose vendors to a larger audience and help them gain confidence,' said Paul. This year, IDS is bringing two entrepreneurs, namely Hanissa Boumin from Kota Marudu, one of Sabah's poorest districts, who will present her innovative craft work using banana fibres, and Jess Boubie from Kota Belud, who will showcase her traditional brass jewellery. DIDR representative Juinah Lipat said 12 social entrepreneurs will showcase their local products, helping to elevate the status of vendors. DIDR is joining BNF for the first time and looks forward to increased participation in the future. One of the standout vendors will be promoting Linopot (wrapped rice), a traditional Sabahan delicacy. Raffy noted that 60pc to 70pc of BNF revolves around social entrepreneurs and their products, while the remaining portion consists of entertainment elements such as singers, dances, and performances. Popular local singer Dabra Sia from Sabah is among the entertainers set to perform at BNF 2025. As Malaysia gears up for Visit Malaysia Year 2026, Raffy said BNF serves as a timely cultural event to promote the country ahead of the campaign. 'The festival is also a platform for unity, bringing communities together while elevating local entrepreneurs and boosting their economy,' he added. Music, singing, and dancing, he noted, are powerful ways to unite Malaysians through culture. Reflecting on the festival's growth, Raffy shared that the first BNF event attracted around 20,000 visitors, and the number has continued to increase every year. * Follow us on Instagram and join our Telegram and/or WhatsApp channel(s) for the latest news you don't want to miss. * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
Borneo Post
16-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Borneo Post
Borneo Native Festival returns to KL
(Seated, from left to right): Paul, Shazrean, Raffy and Juinah at the press conference. KOTA KINABALU (May 16): The fourth edition of the Borneo Native Festival will take place at Pasar Seni, Kuala Lumpur from May 23 to 25, to celebrate Sabah and Sarawak native cultures. 'This festival aims to bring the vibes of the Kaamatan and Gawai festivals to the Peninsular, so that people of the two states who are unable to make it home can celebrate there and to introduce to other people the annual cultural events,' said the festival director, Raffy Syazwan Arpandi, at a press conference here recently. Raffy said among the activities planned include beauty pageants, dance competitions and selling of various products by local entrepreneurs. He said it is also a pre-introduction to Kaamatan and Gawai, where those who want to experience the real thing can fly to Sabah or Sarawak after. This year's event is supported by several agencies including Institute for Development Studies (IDS) Sabah, Sabah Creative Economy and Innovation Centre (Scenic) and Department of Industrial Development and Research (DIDR). It is also supported by the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture (Motac) and the Ministry of Unity, with the Sabah Tourism Board (STB) as the strategic partner. DIDR will be bringing 12 local entrepreneurs to showcase their handicraft as well as traditional food and beverages such as linopot and tuak. Scenic's initiative is to give market access through 11 social entrepreneurs it is bringing to this festival, related to the handicraft, food and beverages and health industry sectors. IDS Sabah will be bringing two entrepreneurs showcasing handicraft made out of banana fibre as well as copper, with a focus on a bottom-top approach to uplift economies at the grassroots level. Several local artists will be performing at the event, including Tompuvan, Dabra Sia, Belle Sisoki and Alena Murang. A mob dance trail is also planned from TRX Kuala Lumpur to Pavilion to Pasar Seni, which will highlight the Datun Julud dance. A total of 90,000 visitors are expected at this year's event, while the sales target is around RM200,000. Deputy Economy Minister Dato Hajjah Hanifah Hajar Taib and Deputy Motac Minister Khairul Firdaus Akbar Khan are expected to officiate. In terms of entrepreneur participation, around 200 are anticipated. Also present at the press conference were DIDR Sabah economic affairs assistant officer Juinah Lipat, Scenic Innovation Driven Entrepreneurship assistant manager (Capacity Building Ecosystem Department) Shazrean Shah Saptu and IDS Sabah research associate Paul Canigea Pungut.
