The Country Retreat Wales

Guests may enjoy fishing for sea trout and salmon on the River Towy (five minutes’ drive), trekking through Carmarthenshire countryside on horseback (10 minutes) or playing a round of golf (20 minutes). There are also all sorts of walking and cycling options in the Bannau Brycheiniog National Park (40 minutes), and you can test your fitness levels on the mountain-biking trails in Brechfa or Abergorlech forests (both half an hour). Little beats the wonder of watching red kites coming in to eat at the Red Kite Feeding Station (25 minutes) – but seeing glorious, sandy Rhossili Bay (about an hour) for the first time comes a close second. Once there, you can hike sections of the dramatically scenic Wales Coast Path around the Gower Peninsula. Alternatively, combine a family ramble with a heritage lesson by climbing up to Carreg Cennen (25 minutes), an impressive 13th-century defence castle with spectacular views over the River Cennen. Also steeped in history is National Trust-owned Dinefwr Castle (10 minutes), where you can stroll around medieval ramparts and tour the ornate apartments in 18th-century Newton House.