Blog Layout

The best Instagrammable beauty spots in Carmarthenshire

tanya • Jul 10, 2019

Epic landscape and heritage to feast your eyes and camera on

River Towy Carmarthenshire

Head to Carmarthenshire and discover epic landscapes, stunning coast and mountain ranges and a bigger portfolio of castles than the Royal Family. Pictured is the Towy at Rhandirmwyn.




1. Llyn Y Fan Fach

Llyn Y Fan Fach Brecon Beacons Carmarthenshire

It’s iconic and a lot quieter than Pen Y Fan. While you can’t get the selfie with a mountain name, you can get some cracking good pictures with the lake in the background - lakeside or climb up and get an shot from above looking over it.. And chances are, while the car park is busy, you’ll have the place largely to your self. And if you are staying for longer or want a more active and novel approach Top 5 Things To Do in The Fans

2. The River Towy At Rhandirmwyn

River Tywi Rhandirmwyn Cambrian Mountains
Is it Costa Rica? No it’s Carmarthenshire Rica. What an epic view. And it’s right by the road (empty usually) so easy to stop and photograph. The oak forested volcano to the right is home of RSPB Gwenffrwdd Dinas & Twm Sion Cati Cave, plus there's gorgeous River Towy rolling along below. There’s a well known wild swimming spot near here too, called the Junction Pool. We can’t (and don’t want to) get over this view. 

3. Laugharne

Dylan Thomas Boathouse Laugharne Carmarthenshire

The Boat House , home of Dylan Thomas, is now an excellent tea room. Close by is Dylan Thomas' Writing Shed and Laugharne Castle , 'brown as owls' as the Welsh poet described it, with its twin medieval towers guarding the remains of a Tudor mansion (top picture). Two totally iconic sites to take a photograph with stunning views over the estuary. We love Laugharne, truly, madly, deeply. One of our favourite places to visit. (And not just because of the scones). Go at high tide for the best reflection pics.

4. Carreg Cennen Castle

Carreg Cennen Castle
The most romantic castle in Wales, so they say. Carmarthenshire’s got a larger portfolio of castles than the Royal family, but the position of this one is second to none, and it boasts a natural cave and vaulted passage cut into the cliff-face to explore when you have taken in the panoramic views.

5. Aberglasney 

Aberglasney Ninfarium
Glorious mansion, glorious gardens and the interior of the mansion has been made into a Ninfarium, an award winning, sub-tropical indoor garden with stunning plants – including a double story banana, growing amongst its ruins. It’s so cool we were tempted to try and take the roof off our house to recreate it. And if you need any more reasons to visit, it’s got a licensed tea room and restaurant next to a lake. 

6. Paxton's Tower

Paxton's Tower Carmarthenshire

A folly built to commemorate Lord Nelson with amazing views of the River Towy meandering it’s way leisurely through the valley in one direction and fantastic views of the Botanic Garden of Wales and thatglorious glass roofin the other. Plus, unlike loads of other heritage sites, you can climb right up inside it and it’s free. Winner, winner. PS some photographers nip up here to take epic astro shots of the milky way.


7. Cynghordy Viaduct

Cynghordy Viaduct Heart of Wales Line
Just a whacking great 18 arch viaduct, hidden (as ridiculous as that sounds) in a Welsh valley. Takes a bit of finding, but when you do, you’ll be glad you did.

8. Dolauhirion Bridge

Dolauhirion Bridge built 1773
A stunning Grade 1 listed bridge over the River Towy just outside Llandovery. There’s some beautiful rapids so you can play with your shutter speed to your heart’s content. Unmissable, in our opinion.

9. Cefn Sidan beach

Cefn Sidan beach Carmarthenshire

A seven mile stretch of sandy heaven . Plenty of room to spread out at Cefn Sidan (Silky Back)and partially dog friendly to boot. Views to the Gower and Worm's Head and recently voted Beach of the Year by Countryfile. The other beach to zip over to is Pendine - another outlandishly long one, this time well known for motorsport.

10. Llyn Brianne

Llyn Brianne Dam Flow Away Carmarthenshire
Whilst it may not have the Victorian glamour of its more famous Cambrian Mountains neighbours the Elan Valley, the dam is the UK's tallest, standing at 330ft/91m. Llyn Brianne is also dubbed Little Switzerland and it arguably has one of the best mountain roads in Wales meandering around it. 

Cambrianescapes

Best drives and days out for petrol heads
By Cambrian Escapes 11 Mar, 2024
Five of the best driving roads for views, twists and your socials on our doorstep: Carmarthenshire, Bannau Brycheiniog-Brecon Beacons and Cambrian Mountains
Holiday Cottage, holiday cottage with a hot tub in Wales
By Cambrian Escapes 13 Feb, 2024
15 quick and dirty hacks to help you set up a holiday cottage business
Waterfall at Cwm Gwesyn
By stay 14 Nov, 2023
How to spend a weekend exploring and eating in the Brecon Beacons, Carmarthenshire and the Welsh coast. Stay in a luxury Brecon Beacons holiday cottage at Cambrian Escapes
By Cambrian Escapes 16 Aug, 2023
How to a weekend in the Brecon Beacons and Carmarthenshire.  Carmarthenshire & the Brecon Beacons. enjoy the best walks and the best views in CarmarthenshireThe wonderful season of autumn with that subtle change of air and light that softly recharges you after stuffy August. Check out our favourite hacks for getting out and about in west Wales this autumn.
Llyn Y Fan Fawr
By Cambrian Escapes 17 Sep, 2022
Guided Swim Adventures in the Brecon Beacons and Cambrian Mountains with local open water swim coach Kate. *please visit our Wild Collective page for a full list of guided wild swim, hike, stargazing and other adventures in nature with our incredible local guides.
Golden hour dog walks at Usk Reservoir
By Cambrian Escapes 31 Jul, 2022
The best woods and reservoirs around Llandovery for enjoyable mooches with your pooch
Cwm Rhaeadr Waterfall Cambrian Mountains, Llandovery Wales
By cambrianescapes 23 Apr, 2022
This is waterfall country without compare. It goes without saying that after a blast of rain is the best time to visit, when the roar and power of water reminds us just how insignificant we humans are.
Teifi pools, magical lakes in the Cambrian Mountains
By cambrianescapes 29 Oct, 2020
 Best for wild walks
Best places for wild swimming Brecon Beacons & Cambrian Mountains
By cambrianescapes 09 Aug, 2020
Best Places for Wild Swimming Brecon Beacons & Cambrian Mountains
Bronze Age Cairns in the Cambrian Mountains & Brecon Beacons
By cambrianescapes 19 Jun, 2020
Forget bagging Marilyns, Munros and Wainwrights, the highest points in the Cambrian Mountains & Brecon Beacons are often marked by Bronze Age Cairns – and there’s plenty to bag, too.
Show More
Share by: