Carmarthenshire
People have a tendency to hurtle through Carmarthenshire on their way to Pembrokeshire, but you should think about slowing down and taking time to visit this quiet and little-known corner of
West Wales.
The estuaries of three of the Principality's main rivers are to be found here. The Tywi, the Taf and the Loughor emerge from the green hills and mountains of inland Wales to pour into Carmarthen Bay. There's good sailing, canoeing and kayaking to be had on their waters.
Traditional fishing villages like Ferryside and Llansteffan cling to the shores of the Taf and the Towy, but perhaps the most famous spot of all is Laugharne, the home of Dylan Thomas and the inspiration for Under Milk Wood. The Loughor is an important habitat for migratory birds.
And if it's beaches you're looking for, Carmarthenshire has two of the finest and biggest in Britain. Cefn Sidan and Pembrey are both huge, eight-mile long swathes of beautiful golden sands with great views to the Gower Peninsula in the east and the limestone sea cliffs of Pembrokeshire to the west. On a clear day you should be able to make out Lundy Island in the Bristol Channel and the coast of SW England.
Inland a bucolic landscape of emerald green fields and hedgerows rolls up to pine draped hillsides. If you have a mountain bike take it up to Brechfa Forest near Carmarthen. Here you'll escape the crowds on some great trails which wend their way up to ridges and summits with inspiring views across some of the quietest landscapes in Wales. The riding here is perfect for more independently minded bikers who may not want all the paraphernalia of purpose-built mountain bike centres.
Explore Carmarthenshire in more detail at www.discovercarmarthenshire.com