The Pembrokeshire National Park and Carmarthenshire offer stunning scenery and interesting places to visit. Including these that are owned by the National Trust.

The National Trust are guardians of much of Britain’s heritage, owning and maintaining a diverse selection of important sites including castles, stately homes, gardens, gold mines lighthouses and heritage coastlines.

The variety of the Trust’s interests can be seen when visiting West Wales including.

Llanerchaeron Estate

This 18th-century Welsh gentry estate, in the Aeron Valley, has many period features. Go back in time and visit the dairy, laundry, brewery and salting house in the service courtyard, and the stables and the threshing barns. Today, the site is a working organic farm with two restored walled gardens producing homegrown fruit and herbs.

Admission

Admission costs £6.40 (£3.20 for children), the farm is open from April to October 11.30 to 4 on Wednesdays to Sundays. It is also open on Bank Holiday Mondays and Tuesdays in the school summer holidays.

Getting There

The property is 2½ml E of Aberaeron just off the A482, the First Cymru service X40 runs hourly from Carmarthen to Aberystwyth through Aberaeron.

Dolaucothi Gold Mine

Take a guided underground tour of goldmines, set in wooded hillsides, mined by the Romans. Pan for gold and visit the exhibitions on the history of gold mining. From the mine there are three marked walks through the remote Cothi Valley. Please note that the tours are fairly strenuous, with about 75 steps, and children under five years old are not allowed underground.

Admission

Admission costs £3.40 adults and £1.70 children. The mines are open daily 10am to 5pm between mid March and late October.

Getting There

The mines are on the A482, between Lampeter and Llanwrda. Morris Travel run an irregular bus service between Lampeter and Llanwrda, phone 01267 235090 for times.

Dinefwr Park and Castle

This 18th-century landscape park, with a deer park that is home to 100 fallow deer, is thought to have inspired the gardener Capability Brown. The park is home to a herd of 100 fallow deer and a small herd of White Park Cattle and there are a selection of scenic walks with views of the Towy Valley. The centrepiece of the estate is the 17th century Newton House, with showrooms and exhibition rooms open to the public

Admission

Admission costs £6 adults and £3 children opening hours are 11 to 5 Mid March to late October. The site is closed on Tuesdays and Wednesday.

Getting There

On western outskirts of Llandeilo take M4 to the end of the motorwaythen A48(T) to Cross Hands and A476 to Llandeilo. The entrance is by the police station, a selection of buses run to Llandeilo and Llandeilo railway station is ½mile away.

Colby Woodland Garden

This garden, set in a quiet peaceful valley, boasts one of the finest displays of rhododendrons and azaleas in Wales. Enjoy the gardens wooded pathways, where every season has its own unique attraction with spring colours, summer hydrangeas and autumn foliage.

Admission

Admission is £4 adults and £2 children, the gardens are open every day from late March to early November between 10am and 5pm.

Getting There

The gardens are 1½ miles from Amroth and there are brown signs from the A477 Tenby to Carmarthen road and the coast road at Amroth Castle.

Tudor Merchant’s House

This late 15th century town house, found near Tenby Harbour, is furnished to display family life in Tudor times. In those days, Tenby was a busy commercial seaport and some of the original features in the merchant’s house remain. The ground floor has a 'Flemish' round chimney, and scarfed roof-trusses. Outside, there is a small herb garden.

Admission

Admission is £2.50 adults and £1.20 children, the house is open every day, except Saturday, from late March to early November between 10am and 5pm.

Getting There

The house is on Tudor Square in Tenby town centre and is a 10 minute walk from the railway station.

St David’s Visitor Centre

The City of St Davids is smaller than many villages, but the site of Wales’s patron saint’s 6th century monastery is an intriguing mix of history and natural beauty. Visit the 12th century cathedral or explore Britain’s only coastal National Park. The Visitor Centre is found at Captain’s House on St David’s High Street and provides details of St David’s Head and local coastline, much of which is owned and maintained by the National Trust. Interactive technology gives information on National Trust walks and beaches throughout Pembrokeshire.

Admission

Opening days and hours vary according to season, please phone 01437 720385 for information.

Getting There

The Visitor Centre is on the High Street in the centre of St Davids

Annual Membership

Annual membership costs £43.50 for adults, £72.50 for couples and £77.50 for families (2 adults and 2 children over 5 years). Members are admitted free to over 300 National Trust Properties in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Reciprocal arrangements allow free membership to similar organisations in 13 other countries including Scotland, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. Members joining at one of the properties will have their admission for that day refunded.

Other Things to do in South and West Wales

Things to do in South West Wales

Family Days Out in South Wales

Margam Country Park ,South Wales

National Trust in South Wales

Days Out on The Gower Peninsula

Free Days Out in South Wales