Whitland

Rural west Wales doesn't get much quieter than this. Whitland sits firmly in Carmarthenshire's countryside, where the pace drops several gears and the nearest excitement might be spotting sheep in the next field. But that's precisely the point.

The town earned its place in Welsh history - Canolfan Hywel Dda Centre tells the story of the medieval laws drafted here that shaped Wales for centuries. More compelling for most visitors is the surrounding landscape: Marros Mountain offers proper hill walking without the crowds you'll find further north, while Red Roses Park provides gentler nature trails. St Cyffic's Church and St Mary's Church anchor the town's quiet centre.

Woodland walks abound here. Coed Old Pale and Cringa Wood make for lovely afternoon rambles when you need to stretch your legs. The countryside rolls on for miles in every direction - this is farming country where tractors outnumber cars most days of the week.

Getting here means driving, really. Whitland does have a train station on the West Wales line, but services are sporadic. From Cardiff it's about an hour and a half by car. Carmarthen, the county town, lies twenty minutes east if you need proper shops or restaurants.

Staying at one of the holiday parks scattered around the area makes perfect sense if you're after genuine rural peace. Places like Thorning Farm Glamping & Camping or Parcglas Pods put you right in the countryside, while still being close enough to explore Pembrokeshire's coast - the famous beaches at Pendine Sands are less than half an hour away.