Great places to visit in this part of Wales...
Golden coastline:
Unspoilt landscape:
Attraction Collections...
Great accommodation...
YOU ARE HERE: HOME THE TYWI VALLEY
One of the most picturesque valleys in Wales
The Tywi valley follows the path of the River Tywi from its source in the Cambrian Mountains to its meeting with the sea at Carmarthen Bay, gently weaving its way through some 35 miles of beautiful Carmarthenshire scenery.
Meandering gently through this stunning countryside, the river Tywi flows through picturesque meadows and ancient woodlands flanked by gently rolling hillsides and a patchwork of medieval farmlands.
In the 11th and 12th centuries the Normans fortified the landscape with castles at Carmarthen, Dryslwyn, Dinefwr, Carreg Cennen and Llandovery, the Tywi being once a medieval battleground for Welsh princes and English kings. During Roman times the area became a strategic supply route between Carmarthen and Llandovery, Roman Amphitheatre remains can be seen at Priory Street in Carmarthen (one of only seven sites in the UK).
The breathtaking scenery of the valley offers inspiration for walkers, cyclists, artists and photographers and is rich in flora and fauna, look out for otters, herons, the red kite and many rare plants thriving along the river banks. The National Botanic Garden of Wales and Aberglasney Gardens are located in the heart of the valley making this area one of Wales's foremost horticultural destinations.
Gallery
Natural beauty and living heritage
Important!
- Wheelchair accessibility is mixed, check with the individual location websites.
- Due to the rugged nature of the countryside and castle access, keep children closely supervised.
- Livestock may be roaming freely in some areas, keep your dog on a lead at all times and clean up any waste.
Map & Highlights
- 1 Carmarthenshire Museum
- 2 Paxton's Tower
- 3 National Botanic Garden of Wales
- 4 Llyn Llech Owain Country Park
- 5 Dryslwyn Castle
- 6 Aberglasney Gardens
- 7 Gelli Aur Country Park
- 8 Dinefwr Park & Castle
- 9 Llandeilo
- 10 Brechfa Mountain Bike Centre
- 11 Llandovery
- 12 Carreg Cennen Castle
- 13 Carmarthen Town
- 14 Carmel Nature Reserve
- 15 Tywi Valley Cycle Path
1 Carmarthenshire Museum
- Gift shop
- Cafe next door
- Picnic area
- Toilets
- Free parking
- Free entry
- Open all year
- Disabled access
- Guide dogs only
- What three Words location - ///chaos.heats.ballots
More about Carmarthenshire Museum here.
2 Paxton's Tower
- There are no facilities at this location
- Free parking
- Free entry
- Open all year
- Not wheelchair/pushchair friendly
- Dogs on lead
- What three Words location - ///tidal.footballers.toolbar
More about Paxton's Tower here.
3 National Botanic Garden of Wales
- Gift shop
- Cafe/Restaurant
- Picnic area
- Toilets
- Free parking
- Entry fee
- Open all year
- Disabled access
- Dogs allowed Monday and Friday (with restrictions)
- What three Words location - ///pumpkin.website.variances
More about The National Botanic Garden of Wales here.
4 Llyn Llech Owain Country Park
- Cafe
- Picnic area
- Toilets
- Pay and Display Parking
- Free entry
- Open all year
- Disabled access route
- Dogs allowed on a lead
- What three Words location - ///candle.admits.auctioned
More about Llyn Llech Owain Country Park here.
5 Dryslwyn Castle
- There are no facilities at this location
- Free parking
- Free entry
- Open all year
- Not wheelchair/pushchair friendly
- Dogs on lead
- What three Words location - ///dunes.cross.daunted
More about Dryslwyn Castle here.
6 Aberglasney Gardens
- Shop and plant sales
- Cafe/Restaurant
- Parking
- Toilets
- Entry fee
- Open all year
- Accessible although some areas have difficult inclines
- Guide dogs only
- What three Words location - ///bluntly.rudder.bulge
More about Aberglasney Gardens here.
7 Gelli Aur Country Park
- Cafe
- Parking with small donation
- Free entry
- Open all year
- Toilets
- Accessible for wheelchairs but some areas are difficult
- Dogs on lead
- What three Words location - ///alarmed.delighted.unable
More about Gelli Aur Country Park here.
8 Dinefwr Park & Castle
- Cafe/Restaurant
- Pay and Display Parking
- Toilets
- Entry fee to Newton House
- Entry to castle is free on foot
- Castle open all year
- Newton House may be closed at times
- Picnic area
- Accessible for wheelchairs but some areas are difficult
- Dogs on lead
- What three Words location - ///staring.enthused.flaunting
More about Dinefwr Park & Castle here.
9 Llandeilo
- Cafes/Restaurants
- Pay and Display Parking
- Shops
- Toilets
- Accessible for wheelchairs
- Dogs on lead, clean up any mess
- What three Words location - ///anchovies.rosier.thunder
More about Llandeilo here.
10 Brechfa
- Free parking
- Free entry
- Open all year
- Not accessible for wheelchairs
- Dogs on lead, clean up any mess
- What three Words location - ///fiery.cheerful.continued
More about Brechfa Mountain Biking Centre here.
11 Llandovery
- Cafes/Restaurants
- Pay and Display Parking
- Shops
- Toilets
- Accessible for wheelchairs
- Dogs on lead, clean up any mess
- What three Words location - ///motivator.prepare.park
More about Llandovery here.
12 Carreg Cennen Castle
- Tea rooms
- Free parking
- Shop
- Entry fee to castle
- Toilets
- Open all year
- Not accessible for wheelchairs
- Dogs on lead, clean up any mess
- What three Words location - ///offstage.safety.pleasing
More about Carreg Cennen Castle here.
13 Carmarthen Town
- Cafes/Restaurants
- Pay and Display Parking
- Shops
- Toilets
- Accessible for wheelchairs
- Dogs on lead, clean up any mess
- What three Words location - ///sample.ever.forum
More about Carmarthen here.
14 Carmel Nature Reserve
- No facilities at this location
- Not accessible for wheelchairs
- Parking limited
- Dogs on lead, clean up any mess
- What three Words location west - ///sample.ever.forum
- What three Words location east - ///lied.drumbeat.harmlessly
- Free entry
More about Carmel here.
15 Tywi Valley Cycle Path
- Facilities - cafe/restaurant, toilets at Abergwili, Nantgaredig, Llanarthne and Llandeilo
- Parking at Abergwili - outside Carmarthenshire Museum (Free parking) - What three Words location ///trickling.releases.comply
- Parking at Dryslwyn - opposite castle (Free parking) - What three Words location ///theme.purist.imprints
- Parking at Ffairfach - old Tregyb school (Free parking) - What three Words location ///warthog.hobble.snowballs
- Parking at Llandeilo (Pay and Display) - What three Words location ///reputable.motivate.heckler
- Please keep dogs on a lead, clean up any mess
- Respect farm livestock, keep gates closed
- Wheelchair / Pushchair friendly
- The path is approximately 12 miles long fom Abergwili to Ffairfach
- Free to use
More about the Tywi Valley Cycle Path here.
Where to stay...
Hotels / Apartments
- Boar's Head 120 Lammas St, Carmarthen SA31 3AE.
- Broadway Country House Laugharne SA33 4NU.
- Brown's Hotel King St, Laugharne SA33 4RY. Dog friendly
- Caban Pendine Marsh Road, Pendine Sands SA33 4NY.
- Falcon Hotel 111 Lammas Street, Carmarthen SA31 3AP.
- Ivy Bush Royal Hotel 11 Spilman Street, Carmarthen SA31 1LG. Dog friendly
- Mansion House Llansteffan 1 Pantyrathro, Llansteffan SA33 5AJ.
- Picton House Llanddowror, St Clears SA33 4HJ.
- Rose and Crown Hotel 114 Lammas street, Carmarthen SA31 3AE.
- Spilman Hotel 36 Spilman Street, Carmarthen SA31 1LQ.
- The Fox & Hounds High street, Banc-y-felin SA33 5ND.
- Travelodge A40/A4066 Roundabout, Tenby Road, St. Clears SA33 4JN.
- Y Seren Hotel & Restaurant Capel Dewi Road, Llangunnor SA31 2HY.
Self Catering
- Bay View Pendine SA33 4UH. Dog friendly
- Cwtch at Forge Cottage Broadway, Laugharne SA33 4NS.
- Dylan Coastal Resort Laugharne Park, Laugharne SA33 4SG. Dog friendly
- Elmrise Park Pant Yr Athro, Llangain SA33 5AJ.
- Granary Cottage Felinfach Cottages, St Clears SA33 4DS.
- Kind Cottages Penbigwrn, Meidrim SA33 5NY.
- Lloret Stoneway Rd, Laugharne SA33 4SU. Dog friendly
- Llwynpur Torcoed Ganol, Porthyrhyd, Carmarthen SA32 8PY.
- Pentowyn Holiday Cottages Llansteffan SA33 5LU. Dog friendly
- Parkdean Resorts Pendine Sands Marsh Rd, Pendine SA33 4NZ. Dog friendly
- Pods @ Broadway Broadway Country House, Laugharne SA33 4NU. (Glamping)
- Tan y Lan Fach Church Road, Llangain SA33 5BB.
- The Cors Country House Newbridge Road, Laugharne SA33 4SH.
- The Old Vicarage King Street, Laugharne SA33 4QU.
Touring Caravan, Camping, Static Caravan
- Ants Hill Holiday Park Laugharne SA33 4QN. (Touring / Tents) Dog friendly
- Laugharne View Caravan Site Heol Down Farm, Llansteffan SA33 5FB. Dog friendly
- Quarry Lodge Campsite White Mill, Carmarthen SA32 7ET. (Touring / Tents) Dog friendly
- The Marsh Campsite Morfa Bach, St Clears SA33 4HD. (Touring / Tents) Dog friendly
- The Welsh Farm Glamping Cilcoed, Meidrim SA33 5QA. Dog friendly
B&B / Guest Houses
- Alltyfyrddin Farm Fferm Alltyfyrddin Farm, Abergwili SA32 7ER.
- Dan y Graig Barn Dan y Graig, Cwmffrwd SA32 8DB.
- Dylan Thomas SeaView Market Lane, Laugharne, Seaview SA33 4SB. Dog friendly
- Glangwili Mansion Llanllawddog, Carmarthen SA32 7JE.
- Glanyrynys Farm Porthyrhyd, Carmarthen SA32 8PX.
- Hills Farm Horsepool Rd, Laugharne SA33 4QL. Dog friendly
- Old Priory Guest House 20 Priory Street, Carmarthen SA31 1NE.
- Pendine Sands Guest House Morfa View, Pendine SA33 4PQ.
- The Old Board School Guest House St Clears SA33 4DY.
Nearby attractions
Explore a few more interesting places in this area...
Carreg Cennen
Carreg Cennen
PARKING FREE
CASTLE - ENTRY FEE
Parc Howard, museum and parkland
Parc Howard
FREE
Llanelli Beach
Llanelli Beach
FREE
PAY & DISPLAY PARKING
Swiss Valley
Swiss Valley
FREE
Troserch Woods, Llangennech
Troserch Woods
FREE
Morfa Berwig Nature Reserve
Morfa Berwig Nature Reserve
FREE
Burry Port harbour and sea front
Burry Port
FREE
PAY & DISPLAY PARKING
Pembrey Peninsula
Pembrey Peninsula
FREE
PARKING - PAY ON EXIT
Kidwelly
Kidwelly
PARKING FREE
CASTLE - ENTRY FEE
Machynys Peninsula
Machynys Peninsula
FREE
PAY & DISPLAY PARKING
Penllergare Valley Woodland
Penllergare Valley Woodland
FREE
PAY & DISPLAY PARKING
Llyn Llech Owain Country Park
LLyn Llech Owain Country Park
FREE
PAY & DISPLAY PARKING
Pwll Nature Reserve
Pwll Nature Reserve
FREE
Llansteffan
Llansteffan
FREE
Laugharne
Laugharne
PAY & DISPLAY PARKING
Dinefwr Park
Dinefwr Park
FREE
PAY & DISPLAY PARKING
ENTRY FEE FOR MANSION
Millennium Coastal Park
Millennium Coastal Park
FREE
PAY & DISPLAY PARKING
Black Mountain
Black Mountain
PARKING FREE
FREE
Carmel National Nature Reserve
Carmel National Nature Reserve
FREE
Ynysdawela Nature Park
Ynysdawela Nature Park
FREE
FREE PARKING
Attraction Collections
Medieval Castles
Medieval Castles
Beautiful Beaches
Beautiful Beaches
Great Gardens
Great Gardens
Superb Cycle Paths
Superb Cycle Paths
Wonderful Walks
Wonderful Walks
Picturesque Parks
Picturesque Parks
More attraction links....
Heritage
- Carmarthen Museum
- Carreg Cennen Castle
- Dinefwr Park and castle, Llandeilo
- Dolaucothi Roman Gold Mines
- Dylan Thomas Boathouse, Laugharne
- Gower Heritage Centre
- Gwili Railway
- Kidwelly Castle
- Llanelly House
- Llanelli & Mynydd Mawr Railway
- Museum of Land Speed, Pendine
- National Waterfront Museum, Swansea
- Oystermouth Castle, Swansea
- Paxtons Tower, Llanarthne
- Swansea Castle
- Swansea Museum
- The National Showcaves Centre for Wales
Parks, Woodlands, Nature
- Bryngarw Country Park, Bridgend
- Brynmill Park, Swansea
- Craig-y-Nos Country Park
- Gelli Aur Country Park
- Gnoll Country Park, Neath
- Llanelli Wetland Centre
- Llyn Llech Owain Country Park
- Margam Country Park
- Millennium Coastal Park, Llanelli
- Pembrey Country Park
- Penllergare Valley Woodlands
- Singleton Park, Swansea
Gardens
Leisure
Local Tourism Authorities
About
myplace.wales strives to promote the natural beauty and stunning landscape of Carmarthen Bay, Gower and surrounding area to locals and potential visitors. Highlighting great places to visit and excellent attractions.
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- If possible, let someone know where you're going.
- Close all gates behind you.
- Protect plants and animals.
- Keep dogs under control.
- Take your litter home.
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