How to spend a weekend in the Brecon Beacons & Carmarthenshire

Here's a few of our tips for some of the best adventures and food to be had on a long weekend spent exploring the Brecon Beacons and some of the best parts of Carmarthenshire.

Pen y Fan dawn hike

Roll out of bed pre-dawn and drive to Cwm Gwdi car park to head up Pen Y Fan. The first 30 mins of this route can be sweaty, but think of it as a warm-up and you’ll then cruise up the long ridge of Cefn Cwm Llwch before a final short scramble up to the summit.  You won’t regret the misty morning views and gorgeous colour. Get there for sunrise if you can. Cwm Gwdi Grid ref 02393 24747.

Head to Hills for an out of the ordinary and well deserved burger when you get back down.

Drive up to the top of the Towy Valley/Blaenau Tywi for superb autumn colours. The birch turn first with their fantastic bright yellow and then it’s the turn of the Atlantic sessile Oakland. An absolute picture.  Gwenffrwdd Dinas Nature reserve. .  Refreshment choices at the Tywi Bridge Inn, or the Royal Oak, Rhandirmwyn. Check opening times at the pubs to avoid disappointment

Head down to Llansteffan, Carmarthenshire for low tide. Walk across to glorious Scott’s bay and then head up to the cliffs and Wharley Point along the Wales Coast Path to get the superb views and swirls of the sand banks in this gloriously shallow section of Carmarthen Bay. Views all the way across to Worm’s Head on Gower and across to Ginst Point at the head of Laugharne and the Taf Estuary. There’s benches for idling, taking photographs and home made picnics or grab something to eat at the Inn in the Sticks, LLansteffan afterwards.

Go wine tasting at an organic and non-intervention vineyard in West Wales. Zero input wine from a regenerative vineyard that’s already scoring plaudits and supplying places like Good Food Guide listed Paternoster Farm in Pembs. Two-hour sessions including a tour, tasting and tapas made especially to complement the wines are a snip at £30 a head. www.hebronvineyard.com

 Twyi Tour – head down the Towy Valley from Llandovery for a suite of visits. Choose from  Carreg Cennen, brilliant view point Paxtons Tower and the fantastic Botanic Garden of Wales.  Feast at Wrights Food – eat in their excellent café, shop in their shop, sample their natural wines or pre-order their weekend supper kits to tuck into when you get home. Or head to the Tregyb Arms in Ffairfach Llandeilo. Cocktails and mocktails (in fact the best non-alcholic drink we’ve ever had) and sociable sharing platters.New Paragraph

The Wild Collective: Immerse yourself in nature and detox your mind with one or of our incredible experiences  Whether you want to wild swim, walk under a full moon, try out felting and foraging or go out stargazing, we’ve got a raft of adventures and creativity, led by local experts, to take you out of your hectic life and soothe your soul. Check out the full list here.