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Carmarthenshire and the Gower Peninsula
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The National Botanic Garden of Wales is contained in a stunning oval glasshouse, packed with plants from Mediterranean regions,
South Africa and California. A central walkway leads past
lakes, sculptures, and geological outcrops, with
walks down towards slate bed plantings and different wood and wetland
habitats. Surrounding land is used as an
organic farm with Welsh breeds of cattle and sheep, and a walled garden
provides organic vegetables for the restaurant and cafe.
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The Boathouse at Laugharne was the home of the Thomas family from 1949, until
Dylan’s death in 1953. It’s a quiet peaceful place overlooking the estuary. Inside, an evocative museum shows how the house
would have looked. In the living room a period wireless
plays the rich tones of the poet reading his work. In the small garage
where he worked, you can peer through the
windows to see crunched balls of paper, pens, and screwed up photos of
literary heroes.
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Founded in 1477, Aberglasney Gardens vary from informal
woodland planting with running streams and wildflowers, to the formal
cloister garden, walled gardens and the Ninifarium - a conversion of
the ruinous central rooms and courtyard of the mansion. This area has
been covered with a huge glass atrium, and contains a wonderful
collection of warm temperate and sub-tropical plants including Orchids,
Palms, Magnolias and Cycads.
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Newton House was built in the 1600's and is surrounded by
landscaped grounds and a deer park. The ground floor and basement are
furnished as they would have been circa 1912, and an exhibition on the
first floor tells the story of Dinefwr's past. Dinefwr
Castle, which is where the Lord Rhys, Prince of Deheubarth,
held court, overlooks the house and grounds. Visitors can explore the
park, home to more than 100 fallow deer and a herd of rare White Park
cattle. Facilities include a shop and tea room.
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Rhossili is the ideal location from which to walk along the south
spectacular Gower coast and discover its rare wildlife, archaeology,
unspoilt cliffs and beaches. Rhossili Bay stretches
for three miles, and behind it the 200-metre clifftop walk to Rhossili
Down allows you to take in breathtaking views of the tidal island of
Worms Head, accessible for only five hours at low tide. The Visitor Centre houses an exhibition about the area and
a shop.
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Derived from the French word Mamelles meaning breasts, the term Mumbles is interchangeable with Oystermouth, located at the western end of Swansea Bay. This delightful seaside town is a livley place
with good restaurants, budget hotels, pubs, cafes, a refurbished pier
and the ruins of Oystermouth Castle to explore. Around the headland, reached either by the longer coast road or by
a short walk over the hill, is the district of Langland Bay, whose
sandy beach is popular with surfers.
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Explore a tropical haven of wonderful plants and animals situated
in the heart of the Swansea. From insects, reptiles, fish and monkeys
to bananas, pineapple plants, prickly cacti and giant bamboo -
Plantasia has it all, and is perfect for a family day out, whatever the
weather! Look out for special events in the school holidays, like the Hothouse Trail Competition, where children can
hunt high and low in the jungle undergrowth to look for clues. Facilities at Plantasia include a gift shop and
cafe.
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Swansea's Glynn Vivian Art Gallery contains traditional and modern art,
with work by Old Masters as well as an international collection of
porcelain and Swansea china. The 20th Century is represented with painting and sculpture by
Hepworth, Nicholson and Nash alongside Welsh artists such as Ceri
Richards and Gwen and Augustus John. A
variety of temporary exhibitions are staged throughout the year, and a
bookshop sells recent publications on the contemporary arts.
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Housed in an impressive new building, the National Waterfront
Museum at Swansea tells the story of industry and innovation in Wales
over the past 300 years. Industrial and maritime heritage is ready to explore
via cutting-edge, interactive technology married with traditional
displays. Industrial history and its impact on peoples lives are brought to life
through images, films, maps, words, spoken testimony and the latest
sensory technology.
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There are few castles in Wales or Europe which can boast a more
spectacular location than Carreg Cennen, its ruins crowning a
precipitous crag in a remote corner of the western end of the Brecon
Beacons National Park. A visit to Carreg Cennen is an adventure - not least for the sight of
the breathtaking 325 ft (100m) cliff on which the castle is perched and
the dramatic trek through the passageway cut into the cliff-face, which
leads to a natural cave beneath the fortifications.
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