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Best Winter days out for Food and views on our doorstep
cambrianescapes • Sep 28, 2019
Get out and explore castles, gardens, mountains, market towns and coast and factor in plenty of time for a cosy lunch or afternoon tea …
Walk the Carmarthenshire Coast Path at Llansteffan for superb estuary views from Caldey Island across to Pembrey and down to Worm's Head. Grab a bite in the excellent Inn in the sticks, Llansteffan or at Mansion House. Do check for winter opening times.
Castles and the Tywi valley
Take a trip to superb Carreg Cennen SA19 6UA, the most romantic castle in Wales in the National Park. You can carry on from here down the Towy Valley to Paxton’s Tower SA32 8HX, which has super views over the valley and the Botanic Gardens and Dryslwyn castle SA32 8JQYou are spoiled for choice here with food options at Y Polyn SA32 7LH Alternatively carry on into Carmarthen where you could try Award winning organic and vegan friendly cafe and food haven The Warren SA31 1PX.
Cambrian Mountains: Llyn Brianne and the most remote chapel in Wales
Cambrian Mountains: Llyn Brianne Dam & the most remote chapel in Wales.
Take a drive up to the dam (turn left at the bottom of our track) and stop at the top to see this enormous dam and reservoir. Carry on driving around the reservoir along the wild mountain road to Tregaron.
Stop at Soar Y Mynydd
SY25 6NP, the most remote chapel in Wales. Have lunch or high tea in Y Talbot
SY25 6JL in the town or in the lovely organic Riverside Café and Farm Shop
SY25 6JP. You can also visit Cors Caron the biggest wetland in Europe (sounds odd but it is fantastic). Drive back via Lampeter and pick up some goodies at Watson & Pratts
deli in Lampeter
Beautiful walks on the Carmarthenshire coast path
Take a trip to beautiful Laugharne (pronounced Larn) – we love it. A very special atmosphere and one time home to Welsh poet Dylan Thomas and you can visit his extraordinary writing shed. Lots of places to stop and eat including the Ferrymans Deli,
Browns Hotel
SA33 4RY and smaller places around the castle.
The Dylan Thomas Boathouse
and tearoom has lovely views and excellent scones. Make sure you walk to the far opposite side of the bay to the castle and walk up the steps and along for about 10 minutes to get the most stunning view of the estuary and Carmarthenshire coast beyond.
Cefn Sidan is a 7 mile stretch of beach at Pembrey Country Park
SA16 0EJ.. Then there’s Pendine sands, Home of landspeed records and there are speed events held throughout the year.
Hay on Wye Town of books, North Eastern Brecon Beacons
Famous for its bookshops and literary festival, Hay is a good place for a mooch, whatever the weather.
Lots of pleasant coffee shops, independent shops, galleries and pubs. Try the Blue Boar
for lunch. If the weather is clear, take a drive up to Hay Bluff.
If you’re feeling like exploring, keep on driving on the single track road (limited passing places so you must be happy reversing if needed) and drive down through breathtaking Gospel’s Pass and down to Llanthony Priory, one of the oldest abbeys in Wales. NP7 7NN. Stop at St Martin’s
church Cwmyoy, which is very crooked indeed! Travel back to Abergavenny and drive back to Llandovery on the A40.
Brecon Beacons National Park – Crickhowell, Talybont & Llangynidr
Crickhowell was voted the Best UK High Street 2019, and it’s well worth a visit. Take a legendary afternoon tea at The Gliffaes Hotel NP8 1RH, or drop into The Bear, an old coaching house, on the high street. NP8 1BWDrop into Llangynidr to visit the canal which has five locks and an acqueduct, plus a Grade 1 Listed stone bridge over the beautiful River Usk. There are three pubs here, closest to the canal is The Coach and Horses NP8 1LS You can take the back road to Talybont and visit the reservoir and there’s a fantastic waterfall walk, just past the reservoir with parking at CF48 2UT.
She'll be driving round the mountain
We are at the bottom of Mynydd Mallaen on the south east corner but you can take a drive all the way around this spellbinding mountain. Turn left at the bottom of our track and keep left after the Tywi Bridge Inn. Enjoy the steep oak forested mountain sides and spectacular views. Stop on the way at Capel Bwylch Y Rhiw if you look just below the chapel at the stream next to the road, you’ll see where the stream is gated off to carry out baptisms in the mountain stream (brrrr). Carry on to visit the Dolaucothi Gold Mines
SA19 8US
, belonging to the National Trust.
The Countryfile pub of the Year 2019 the Dolaucothi Arms
serves food. SA19 8UW
Colourful market towns - Llandeilo
Have a mooch around the independent shops in Llandeilo. Visit the National Trust property Dinefwr
with its medieval castle and deer park. SA19 6RT. Lots lunch options including Ginhaus Deli
and the Cawdor Hotel. Yr Hen Vic
has vegetarian and vegan options.
Gardens in Carmarthenshire
Visit glorious Aberglasney Gardens
SA32 8QH that has a super licensed restaurant and the National Botanic Gardens of Wales
SA32 8HN
and have lunch at nearby Wrights Food Emporium
(closed Tuesdays) SA32 8JU
While the main gardens have plenty of autumn and winter interest, the glass houses and ninfariums at both make winter visits a must.
The Ceredigion coast
Take a drive up to Aberaeron, a beautiful harbour town. Superb fish and chips
or treat yourselves to lunch at the Harbourmaster
SA46 0BT
(best to book in high season). Carry on down the coast to New Quay and Cei Bach where you can watch dolphins and soak up the vibe of this busy beachside town.
The gelataria, Creme Pen Cei
is not to be missed.
Cambrian Mountains – Devil’s Bridge and the Hafod Estate
Take a leisurely drive up to Devil’s Bridge Waterfalls
SY23 3JW and the Hafod Estate, with its beautiful landscape. Have lunch or coffee in the extraordinary architecture of the Hafod Hotel.
You can take the Vale of Rheidol Railway
here into Aberystwyth and you can also visit the Gardens Cae Hir
on the way back SA48 7NG
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