Burry Port

The coal dust has long settled, but echoes of industry still whisper through this former port town where the Loughor Estuary meets Carmarthen Bay. Burry Port wears its working-class heritage proudly - the harbour that once shipped anthracite across Britain now hosts pleasure boats and weekend anglers.

Pembrey beach stretches for miles in both directions, a proper expanse of golden sand that never feels crowded even on bank holidays. The dunes behind shelter rare orchids and skylarks. Pembrey Country Park sprawls inland, offering everything from the quirky Pembrey Miniature Railway to mountain biking trails through pine forests. Ski Pembrey brings Alpine thrills to West Wales - artificial slopes that work year-round, though the views across to the Brecon Beacons beat any Swiss resort.

Inland lies The Golden Coast nature reserve, where ancient oak woods meet saltmarsh. Ffrwd Farm Mire Nature Reserve proves that Wales does wetlands brilliantly - kingfishers dart between the reeds while barn owls hunt at dusk. The Gunnery Dome tells the area's military story, housed in what was once part of an extensive firing range.

Carmarthen sits 20 minutes inland by car, connected by regular bus services that run every half hour. The nearest train station is actually Burry Port itself, though services are limited. Most visitors arrive via the M4, then the A484 coastal route.

Staying at one of the nearby parks puts you perfectly placed for both beach days and countryside rambles. Pembrey Country Park Caravan and Motorhome Club Campsite sits right in the action, while Shoreline Caravan Park offers sea views. You're close enough to Swansea for city breaks yet surrounded by some of Wales' most underrated coastline.