THE GARDEN OF WALES

There is a good reason why Carmarthenshire is known as ‘the Garden of Wales’ - not only does it have an array of beautiful gardens and parklands open to the public, but the county is also rich in wild flowers and colourful plants of all kinds.

If structured gardens are your style, Carmarthenshire has a fantastic choice.  Hywel Dda (Hywel the Good) garden is one of the most unusual.  The eponymous hero was king of all Wales in the ninth and tenth centuries and was responsible for the consolidation of the laws of the land.  The six wonderful gardens are built to represent different aspects of the law.

Two others well worth a visit are Gelli Aur – a peaceful placed with terraced gardens and a 20-acre deer park and Aberglasney, probably the most well known of the county’s gardens due to the television coverage.  This too is made up of many different gardens and it’s hard to believe that the place was lost for years in the tangle of many seasons until 1990.

The National Botanic Garden of Wales is a plant lover’s dream and a must for any visitor.  Set in 568 acres of glorious countryside, there are many sights that draw the eye but none more spectacular than the great glass dome built by Sir Norman Foster and home to plants from all over the world.

In complete contrast is Norwood Gardens, opened in 2003 and home to unusual sculptures dotted around, drawing the eye to the different planting schemes.

Dinefwr Park has been at the heart of Welsh history and legend for centuries.  This impressive estate is home to the medieval castle, house, gardens and deer.

Pembrey Country Park is made up of 220 hectares of glorious parkland, one of the cleanest beaches in the UK and a host of excellent family attractions.  Another great family venue is the Millennium Coastal Park – occupying 20 kilometres of coastline on the Burry estuary near Llanelli, the Park overlooks the spectacular Gower Peninsula and features an array of attractions, linked together by a continuous traffic-free cycle/footpath.

The ‘Garden of Wales’ title is also inspired by the landscapes in which those gardens are set. From the rich dairy farming countryside in the west to the rugged moors and hill sheep farms in the east, Carmarthenshire is filled with green spaces.

The pines in the Brechfa and Crychan forests are painted dark green, while the Tywi and Teifi Valleys are lush corridors of verdant green. Up in the high country, on windy Mynydd Llanybydder and the Cambrian Mountains, the moors are a burnished palate of pale greens and browns.

Natural beauty of this quality and quantity is becoming increasingly cherished – and increasingly difficult to find. It offers a rare escape from the rush and crush of modern life. Carmarthenshire is a county of quiet pleasures. Its attractions and activities, in the main, are rooted in its rich landscapes and farming traditions.