8 Compelling Reasons to Visit Carmarthenshire, Wales in 2023

With more travelers seeking slow-paced journeys that let them savour natural landscapes, great food and relaxed activities, choosing the right destination can be challenging. In Carmarthenshire, a county in southwest Wales, visitors can enjoy all of that and more in 2023. If you need inspiration for a trip to Wales, here are eight reasons to visit this beautiful county this year.

The Wild Drovers’ Way

The Wild Drovers’ Way is a scenic touring route that invites visitors to take their time exploring southwest Wales along winding roads once used by drovers. Whether by car or e-bike, the route passes the foothills of the Cambrian Mountains, long sandy beaches and quiet country lanes. It’s divided into three legs named after native Welsh breeds — Llanwenog, Black Ox and Balwen — and an online guide points out places to stay, eat, recharge electric vehicles and hire e-bikes along the way.

The Caban, Pendine Sands

Pendine Sands has welcomed new beachfront accommodation with The Caban, a two-storey building offering 14 rooms and space for up to 43 guests. Overlooking seven miles of sand, the property emphasizes coastal hospitality and will soon add a restaurant and the Museum of Land Speed, enhancing the visitor experience on this iconic stretch of coastline.

Y Sied Cookery School

Y Sied is Carmarthenshire’s only dedicated cookery school, run by Welsh-speaking chef Lisa Fearn. In 2023 Lisa is offering bespoke private family workshops that last three hours. For a set fee, classes include all ingredients for up to four adults and two children. Recent and planned sessions include bread making, artisan sausage workshops, Danish baking and family-focused Welsh cookery — great for anyone wanting to learn regional techniques and recipes.

Quiet Walks

Quiet Walks, a guided-walks company launched by Lisa Denison, offers gentle, restorative walks around Carmarthenshire. Each guided outing typically lasts three to five hours and focuses on peaceful routes that encourage relaxation, mindfulness and a closer connection with the county’s natural scenery.

Museum of Land Speed

Opening in spring 2023, the Museum of Land Speed replaces an older structure to create a modern, interactive space dedicated to the land speed achievements made on Pendine Sands. Exhibits highlight historic attempts and tell human stories behind them, while hands-on displays invite visitors to test their ingenuity and learn about notable record attempts on the sands.

Larder Trails

Food lovers should explore Carmarthenshire’s three new Larder Trails. Each trail highlights the county’s best markets, cafés, restaurants, vineyards, roasteries and producers, and suggests hands-on tasting experiences. The trails also recommend places to stay, from country house B&Bs to a new self-catering apartment above Caws Cenarth dairy, making it easy to plan a culinary-focused break.

Laugharne Weekend

The Laugharne Weekend, running March 24–26, is a compact festival featuring literary and musical talent from home and abroad. Intentionally small in scale, the festival captures the quirky spirit of Laugharne and pays tribute to its most famous resident, Dylan Thomas. It’s a celebratory and intimate cultural event that draws visitors who appreciate literature, music and local character.

Brechfa Forest E-Bikes Hire

A family-run e-bike hire business launched recently to help visitors explore forest tracks in Brechfa Forest. When fully operating, they plan to offer a fleet of e-bikes designed for rougher terrain, allowing riders to tackle forest trails, nearby moorland and country lanes. The surrounding area spans 6,500 hectares in the Cothi Valley and offers friendly village pubs and scenic stops for a relaxed day out.