Llandovery: home of the drovers
Llandovery is a pretty, peaceful market town. Walkers Friendly and Cycling Friendly, it is a gateway to many routes, and has several cycle-friendly cafes and pubs and some nice independent shops. There's a Craft Centre, a small market on Friday mornings, a regular livestock market and an annual Sheep Festival in September. In the 18th century drovers brought sheep and cattle here - 30,000 animals passed through every year on their way to livestock markets in Hereford, the Midlands and Smithfield market in London. Further back in time, the castle was built by the Normans. Over the centuries it saw much fighting - now only fragments of two towers and some walling remain, but the short climb is worthwhile for beautiful views.
EAT AND DRINK
Whitehall - good beer, and cocktails!
The Bear - South Asian influenced vegan and vegetarian food
Penygawse - tea rooms
La Patisserie - deli with fresh local food, great for picnics
Iechyd Da Wholefoods
Mathews Butchers - locally sourced meat, deliver to Nantseren!
SHOP
Black Lion Antiques & Collectables
Llandovery Antiques Centre
The Old Printing Office (gifts and clothes e.g. white stuff)
Llandeilo: old town charm and stylish shops
Llandeilo is a vibrant little town, with a wealth of independent shops selling quality clothes, furnishings, antiques and crafts. It's also home to the National Trust owned Dinefwr Park, a house with beautiful parkland and a great castle. There are annual book and music festivals, and the Festival of Lights brightens up November. There and some great cafes, bars, pubs and several delis stocking locally-produced products. There’s a country market every Friday morning in the Civic Hall.
EAT AND DRINK
Diod - cafe/winebar/deli
Cawdor Hotel - bar and restaurant (good for large groups)
Heavenly - artisan chocolate and ice cream
Mary Ellens @139 - cafe/deli T
SHOP
Toast - clothes and home
Cloth Paper Stitch - vintage haberdashery and more
Peppercorn - kitchenware
The Little Welsh Dresser - Welsh gifts, artwork, interior accessories
Davies & Co - interiors/cafe
Carmarthen: a county town
Carmarthen is about 45 minutes drive, with a castle, galleries, the recently updated Carmarthen Museum and family friendly Parc yr Esgob, plus a good mix of shops, both independent and chains. It's a busy, yet relaxed market town - try the Warren for coffee or lunch, and Florentinos is a good Italian restaurant. Take the back road to Carmarthen for Wright's Food Emporium - a destination for food lovers, close to the National botanic Garden and Aberglasney.
Llangadog: close to home
The Goose & Cuckoo is great for a traditional Sunday lunch.
Myddfai: legendary physicians
Myddfai is a few miles down the road from Nantseren - it's a pretty, sleepy little village with a community-run visitor centre with gift shop, selling local crafts and Myddfai Trading Company products. There's also a cafe there, which serves delicious homemade cakes. The Physicians of Myddfai were herbalists and healers for hundreds of years, and are connected to the Lady of the Lake myth.
Brecon: doorway to the Brecon Beacons
On the way to Brecon (again, its a 45 min drive), stop for coffee or lunch at the laid-back International Welsh Rarebit Centre in Defynnog. In the overgrown churchyard nearby is the Defynnog yew, said to be 5000 years old!
Brecon is a bustling market town, with plenty of interesting shops, cafes, pubs, regular food and craft markets, galleries and a couple of museums. There's also a theatre and a small independent cinema, and the annual Jazz Festival in August. Brecon Cathedral is beautiful, its regarded as one of Wales' finest buildings - and has a lovely cafe. The Hours is our favourite place for coffee, with a combination of delicious local food and beautifully displayed books.
TOP TIP
Hire a boat in Brecon and spend a leisurely day on the Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal. Perfect for a special birthday - we took a picnic and some bubbly!