South Wales
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navier_stokes

Original Poster:

948 posts

229 months

Tuesday 24th May 2011
quotequote all
I'm staying for a few nights somewhere between Cardigan and Carmathen soonish.

Has anyone got any recommendations for things to do in this area? Walks/restaurants/scenic towns to visit etc?

Also, I'll be driving down from Derby - any recommendations for a pleasant stop on the way down?

kiteless

12,577 posts

234 months

Tuesday 24th May 2011
quotequote all
It's an awfully isolated area you're visiting.

From memory, St Davids cathedral is pretty agreeable and you can say that you've visited the country's smallest city. The Preseli Hills are very picturesque, as is Newgale Sands and Solva. I'd recommend a beer at The Sloop Inn at Porthgain as well.

From Derby, depending on your route, I'd stop off to visit Ludlow. Some great delis and proper butchers, and St Lawrence's is one of the few "Great Churches" (as opposed to cathedrals) in England.


jep

1,183 posts

239 months

Wednesday 25th May 2011
quotequote all
Loads to do around that part of the world. There's Gower and Mumbles to the east of Carmarthenshire, a little further west and you're in Dylan Thomas country in Laugharne and Pendine. There's Saundersfoot and Tenby before you head round the Pembrokeshire coast to Manorbier, Freshpool, Stackpole, Bosherston. Further over is Pembroke and St Davids. There are loads of castles and country houses around there.

As Kite says, it's well worth paying a visit to the Sloop at Porthgain, and a little further north there's the Harbourmaster at Aberaeron.

Depending on when you want to stop, there's Cardiff Bay, but tbh, if you're thinking about stopping there, you're only 45mins ish from Gower/Mumbles.

LuS1fer

43,543 posts

275 months

Wednesday 25th May 2011
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Oakwood theme park?

Puggit

49,820 posts

278 months

Wednesday 25th May 2011
quotequote all
My favourites are the Gower, especially Worms Head (island accessible at low tide) and Carreg Cennen Castle

Talley Abbey might be of interest.

Dolaucothi Gold Mines

Cefn Sidan beach (pronounced Kevin Sheedan wink)

Kidwelly Castle

Aberaeron and Lampeter are pleasant enough places - but pretty sleepy by UK standards!

Of course, the jewel in the crown is the Prembrokeshire Coast

Guess who spent most of his childhood holidays in SW Wales?

plasticpig

12,932 posts

255 months

Wednesday 25th May 2011
quotequote all
Went to the Sloop at Easter and had a terrible meal. I wasn't too impressed the time before that either. The Shed at Porthgain is a better bet IMHO. Places I would recommend to eat are:


The Harp Inn, Letterston
Druidstone Hotel, Druidston Haven
The Shed, Porthgain
The Refectory in St Davids Cathedral
The Old Pharmacy, Solva

There are 180 miles of coastal path in Pembrokeshire so walks isn't a problem. A decent shortish walk is from Broad Haven to Druidston Haven and back.


jep

1,183 posts

239 months

Wednesday 25th May 2011
quotequote all
Never got to go in the Shed, was always closed - menu looked good though! Shame if the Sloop's gone downhill, was always top notch when I used to go there....

navier_stokes

Original Poster:

948 posts

229 months

Wednesday 25th May 2011
quotequote all
Cheers for the replies - I'm not planing to do overly much whilst I'm down there but I'll definitely be picking a few from your lists to visit!

kiteless

12,577 posts

234 months

Wednesday 25th May 2011
quotequote all
jep said:
Depending on when you want to stop, there's Cardiff Bay, but tbh, if you're thinking about stopping there, you're only 45mins ish from Gower/Mumbles.
I've been living in Shropshire for 23 years, but even after being away from Neath for that long I could have sworn that The Gower was more than 45 mins from the Cardigan area the OP mentioned! Maybe after all these years my brain is starting to 'urt.....



plasticpig

12,932 posts

255 months

Thursday 26th May 2011
quotequote all
kiteless said:
I've been living in Shropshire for 23 years, but even after being away from Neath for that long I could have sworn that The Gower was more than 45 mins from the Cardigan area the OP mentioned! Maybe after all these years my brain is starting to 'urt.....
The OP said between Cardigan and Camarthen. You can definitely do Camarthen to the Gower in less than 45 mins. With all the improvements on the A40 it's possible to travel from Fishguard to Swansea in about an hour.

kiteless

12,577 posts

234 months

Thursday 26th May 2011
quotequote all
plasticpig said:
Fishguard to Swansea in about an hour.
Bloody hell! Times have indeed changed!

I remember, having reached Pont Abraham at the end of the M4, the rest of the trip to Carmarthen and beyond was an utter dirge.



Puggit

49,820 posts

278 months

Thursday 26th May 2011
quotequote all
kiteless said:
plasticpig said:
Fishguard to Swansea in about an hour.
Bloody hell! Times have indeed changed!

I remember, having reached Pont Abraham at the end of the M4, the rest of the trip to Carmarthen and beyond was an utter dirge.
Now it's all d/c and speed cameras ;o)

jep

1,183 posts

239 months

Friday 27th May 2011
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Puggit said:
Now it's all d/c and speed cameras ;o)
Yes...............frown

Do be careful on the A48!