Carmarthen

Aberglasney is a historic garden nestled in the Tywi valley at Llangathen, just west of Llandeilo in the Carmarthenshire countryside. Records show a home stood here as far back as the 1540s, though the estate really flourished in the early 1600s under Anthony Rudd, the Bishop of St Davids. Its centerpiece is a rare cloister garden surrounded by stone arcades, widely considered the finest surviving Elizabethan or Jacobean example of its kind in Britain. After years of decay left the estate nearly ruined, a restoration trust saved the site and opened it to the public in the late 1990s.

The ten-acre grounds blend various contrasting styles into one compact space. Visitors often flock to the parapet walk atop the cloister walls, the famous ancient yew tunnel, and the serene pool and stream gardens bordered by woodland. Inside the shell of the former house is the Ninfarium, a glass-roofed atrium where subtropical plants grow amidst the restored ruins.

Located just north of Carmarthen in west Wales, the Gwili Steam Railway winds through the scenic Gwili valley, with its base at Bronwydd Arms station. The line uses a section of the old Carmarthen and Cardigan Railway, which opened in 1860 and later became part of the Great Western Railway, transporting everything from wool and milk to livestock and timber before passenger services ended in the 1960s. In 1975, a group of enthusiasts formed a preservation society and began running trains in 1978, establishing Wales' first standard-gauge heritage railway. Volunteers worked hard to rebuild the lost stations using materials salvaged from other closed lines.

Now, visitors can ride vintage steam and diesel trains along the route, which has been extended south to Abergwili Junction for a multi-mile round trip beside the river. The restored Bronwydd Arms station, complete with its signal box and classic platform, creates a nostalgic atmosphere, while a picnic area, a miniature railway, and seasonal events make it a great spot for families all year round.

The National Botanic Garden of Wales is spread across 568 acres of the Carmarthenshire countryside. It sits on the grounds of the former Middleton Hall, a grand Regency mansion whose old lakes and parkland still define the area. Opened in 2000 as a Millennium project, it was the first new national botanic garden established in Britain in nearly two hundred years, blending science and conservation with stunning gardens for the public to enjoy.

The main attraction is the Great Glasshouse, designed by Norman Foster and known as the largest single-span glasshouse in the world. Under its massive elliptical dome is a Mediterranean landscape featuring a deep ravine and plants from places like Chile, California, South Africa, and Australia. Visitors can also explore a tropical butterfly house, a double-walled garden, woodland trails, and a bird of prey centre. Combining bold modern architecture with lush planting and scenic views, it's a wonderful day trip to west Wales.