iKnow Wales
- Carmarthen
- Carmarthenshire North
- Carmarthenshire South
- Haverfordwest
- Near Tenby
- North Pembrokeshire
- St Brides Bay
- Tenby
Carmarthen Accommodation
Carmarthan Views, including the Fairytale Town Hall!
Specialist Shopping Myths & Merlin Style in Carmarthan
Carmarthan Castle Remains adjacent to Carmarthan Town Hall
National Botanic Garden of WalesCarmarthen Tourist Information
Carmarthen, the main hub town of Carmarthenshire and centre for transport routes around the county, is a neat little town indeed. Crammed with pretty shops and framed by the River Towy, which now has what seems like the obligatory sail bridge over it, it's a good central base for exploring Carmarthenshire and indeed for pushing into Pembrokeshire via the fast A40.
Carmarthen Tourist Information Centre, 113 Lammas Street, Carmarthen, SA31 3AQ. Tel (01267) 231557.
Carmarthen Tourist Guide
There's a fair sprinkling of Arthurian legend here in Carmarthen - wizard Merlin or Myrddin in Welsh) is thought to have been born here in Carmarthen. Various Merlin and Arthur legend shops are dotted about the town.
Note too the storybook design of County Hall overlooking the River Tywi which looks like it's jumped straight out of a Grimms Brothers fairytale. What's left of Carmarthen Castle sits next to it. County Hall was designed by the renowned architect John Nash (1752-1835). Son of a Welsh Millwright, Nash's work includes a list of London buildings including a remodelling of Buckingham Palace and Marble Arch.
Carmarthenshire County Museum
Just outside Carmarthen at Abergwili sits the Carmarthenshire County Museum, once the base for the bishop's palace (the bishops obviously preferred this central location as opposed to the neglected St David's Bishop's Palace in far West Pembrokeshire).
Free to enter, the museum building dates from around 1290 and inside you'll find collections of Swansea and Llanelli pottery, portraits of local families, rooms emulating the 1940s, a World War I poster collection and various bits of furniture and paintings. Gardens surround the building.
See Weblink right for more details. Carmarthenshire County Museum, Abergwili, Carmarthen, Carmarthenshire SA31 2JG. Tel: +44 (0)1267 228696.
Carmarthen Golf
Carmarthen Golf Club, Blaen-y-Coed Road, Carmarthen SA33 6EH. Tel: 01267 281588.
Derllys Court Golf Club, Llysonnen Road, Bancyfelin, Carmarthen. Tel: +44 (0)1267 - 211575.
National Botanic Garden of Wales - Carmarthenshire's Gardens
To the east of Carmarthen just outside of Llanarthne is the spectacular National Botanic Garden of Wales (it celebrated it's 5th birthday in 2005). It sits well in this most rural of Welsh counties within the stunning 568 acre Regency park. Your window on the world's plants is here in Carmarthenshire, where modern architecture and landscapting blends with around 1000,000 different species of plants.
Many of the plants here are rare or endangered. Wander around the mammoth and elegant Great Glasshouse and view plants from as far away as Austrailia, Chile, California, the Mediterranean and South Africa.
Europe's longest herbaceous border is here - perennials and shrubs galore, thousands of them. Also on-site is an award-winning Japanese garden, bog and boulder gardens, water features and other unique features such as a 19th century Apothecary. A cafe, restaurant and plant selling area are also here, plus it's constantly evolving this attraction, with new additions all the time. Plenty on for the kids including play areas, an activity garden and Ready Steady Grow activity.
National Botanic Garden of Wales, Llanarthne, SA32 8HG. Carmarthenshire. Tel: 01558 667148. See the One Big Garden Carmarthenshire weblink right for more details. The National Botanic Garden of Wales is open all year round, and has excellent disabled access.
Merlin's Hill Centre near Carmarthen
To the east of Carmarthen at Abergwili sits the Merlin's Hill Centre - perfect for exploring myths and legends pertaining to Wizard Merlin and King Arthur prevalent in Carmarthenshire. (Merlin is supposted to be imprisioned here according to legend).
If fact is more your bag, you might be particularly interested in this Hill site, as it's actually an ancient Iron Age Hillfort which dates from around 400BC. It's also particularly big this hillfort, and is thought to have been a focal point of economic power prior to Carmarthen taking over the role. The Romans arrived in the Towy Valley around AD75 setting up their own fort at Moridunum (now Carmarthen).
Back to the myth, apparently you can hear the imprisoned Merlin clanking his chains occasionally - spook. Merlin's Hill Centre is set within the stunning farmlands of Altyfyrddin Farm. You can stay on-site at the B&B farmhouse which dates back to the 1700s. There's lots of nature trails direct from the farmhouse, plus kids can get involved with working farm life and animal feeds. School groups are also welcome here, and there's an educational slant. See the weblink for details.
Merlin's Hill Fort, Fferm Alltyfyrddin Farm, Abergwili, Carmarthen, SA32 7ER. Tel: 01267 237808. Open daily except Christmas Day. Opening Times are from April to October 10am to 7pm, and November to March 10am to 5pm. Discounts available for large pre-booked groups. Checkout the Merlin's Hill Fort weblink right for details.
Click Search
