Things To Do

There are many lovely places within easy reach of Henllys Estate Bed and Breakfast. Here are some of the ones we like to visit and can recommend.

Aberglasney

If you enjoy gardens and historic house, this is the place for you! The house was sold to the Aberglasney Restoration Trust in 1995 and restoration work began. A cloister garden found in 1998 proved to be from the late Tudor and early Stewart ear. We try and visit each year as there are always new discoveries by the archaeologists. Aberglasney is About a 20 minute drive away.

The National Botanic Garden of Wales

The National Botanic Garden of Wales is built on the Middleton Hall Estate in Llanarthne, about a 40 minute drive away. The 568 acre garden and its centrepiece, the Great Glasshouse, opened in May 2000. Ideally, you need a full day to see everything and it doesn’t matter if there are showers as there are so many greenhouses and buildings to shelter in.

Walking the Black Mountains in the Brecon Beacons National Park

We particularly enjoy our trips up to LLyn y Fan Fach. If its a clear day and you enjoy walking, this is a must. Parking is available about a 20 minute gentle walk away from the lake ( Llyn y Fan Fach) and then you can walk ( quite steeply ) to the top of one of the one of the peaks and see for miles. If you have the energy you can keep walking in a large loop back to your car, along the top of the Fans. It is stunning and well worth it.

Dinefwr Park and Newton House

Dinefwr Park is only 12 miles away in LLandeilo and really easy and quick to get to. It offers a walk up to Dinefwr Castle, a medieval deer park with fallow deer and a small herd of Dinefwr White Park cattle and Newton house itself. There has been a manor house on the grounds since the 15th century, which the National Trust and Cadw have restored. There are beautiful views across the Towy valley from the castle, which was originally built in the 9th century and has been added to over the years since.

Dan-Yr-Ogof Showcaves

These are wonderful caves to visit. The first cave was discovered in 1912, but the cavers were stopped from going any further by an underground lake. Three more lakes were later discovered along with passages, chambers, stalactites and stalagmites. Over 10 miles of caves have now been discovered and the cavers feel this is just the tip of the iceberg. Children will also enjoy their visit here as there are other attractions to see, including a dinosaur park, shire horse centre and Barney’s playbarn. The caves are about a 40 minute drive away.

Carreg Cennen Castle

Carreg Cennen castle dates back to at least the 13th century and sits on a craggy hilltop with the most stunning views of the Black mountains. For the brave ones amongst you, you can hire a torch and explore the natural cave that runs beneath the castle. The climb up to the castle takes you through a private farm where there is a tearoom and craft shop. The drive to Carreg Cennen takes about 30 minutes.

Dinas Bird Reserve

This is a real favourite of ours if we want to spend some time together as a family, but can’t afford to be away from the bed and breakfast for long, as it’s so local. On a sunny day we take a picnic up there and sit by the river. It’s so peaceful. There is also a boardwalk through woodland, which children seem to have fun on. Birds you can see are Red kite, Pied Flycatchers, Redstarts, Common Sandpipers and Dippers. The walk is about 2 miles in total and it only takes about 20 minutes to get there by car.

Cwm Rhaeadr Mountain Bike Trail and Nature Trail

Cwm Rhaeadr is about 7km in length, and after the climb to the top you will be rewarded with stunning views of the Brecon Beacons and the Towy Valley. The exhilarating descent through the forest includes drops, tabletops, big berms and lots more. The forest is also open to walkers with several public footpaths and a 2 mile waymarked route. There is also a picnic site for those much needed refreshments. Cwm Rhaeadr is situated 1 mile north of Cilycwm.

Brechfa Mountain Bike Trails

This is perfect if your family has varying abilities of skills as ours does! There are several trails from Derwen, a green trail at 9.2km long, right up to Raven, a black trail at 18.5km long. From the shouts and screams we heard on our last visit, you need to be a very proficient biker to attempt this one! Again there are walking trails in the forest and a picnic site, so you can make this a really enjoyable family day out. Brechfa is about a 30 minute drive away.