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From Carmarthen Bay to western Bannau Brycheiniog (the Brecon Beacons), Carmarthenshire in South West Wales is the ideal walking destination for a short break. It boasts a fantastic coastline, sweeping beaches and epic views across to Pembrokeshire and the Gower Peninsula. Expect breathtaking vistas and verdant countryside with an egg-box-like topography, rivers that range from white-watered to meandering, and castles in every corner. On top of all that, enjoy charming market towns that are full of independent shops, coffee roasteries and pubs – all offering the best local produce. Not only is it incredibly easy to reach (at the end of the M4), but Carmarthenshire also offers a range of boutique hotels and country cottage stays – each bountiful in warm Welsh hospitality.

 

Wales Coast Path

Summer is the perfect time of year to explore the spectacular 108km/67-mile Carmarthenshire stretch of the Wales Coast Path. Walk from Amroth to Pendine to take in high clifftops and the famous sweeping Pendine Sands where so many land speed records are broken. Culture fans can stroll around the town of Laugharne, where writer Dylan Thomas wrote many of his works. The waymarked 4km/2½-mile Dylan’s Walk is a real treat. Llansteffan offers a delightful coastal section with staggering views across Carmarthen Bay, hidden sandy coves and an imposing Norman castle.

Visit Pembrey Country Park to soak up nature in all its glory, with its 500 acres of woodland alongside 12km/8 miles of golden sands; while the Millennium Coastal Path offers a 20km/13-mile traffic-free and flat route.
 

Rural walks

For a walk offering peace and solitude, head to the Carmarthen Fans, covering some of the most scenic and remote mountain terrain in Bannau Brycheiniog (Brecon Beacons) National Park. With remnants of the landscape’s glacial past visible in all directions, the beautiful Llyn y Fan Fach sits directly beneath the precipitous ridgeline of the Picws Du peak. 

Enjoy one of two circular walks around Carreg Cennen castle. Sat on a 99m/325ft high cliff, the dramatic trek up is worth it for both the 13th-century architecture and stunning views. Make sure you rent a torch to explore the castle’s cave. No trip to Carmarthenshire is complete without a walk around Dinefwr Park  and castle. Keep an eye out for the fallow deer and an ancient breed of White Park cattle that can be viewed from the grounds of Newton House. The village of Rhandirmwyn offers a gorgeous rural walk through woodland along the River Tywi up to the cave of Twm Sion Catti (Wales’ very own Robin Hood). Be sure to pass through Gwenffrwd-Dinas RSPB Nature Reserve, too. 

Put on your walking boots and discover Carmarthenshire this summer at discovercarmarthenshire.com.