Carmarthen Bay - Fun Days Out

Kidwelly Castle (Castell Cydweli) is a ruined castle overlooking the River Gwendraeth and the town of Kidwelly in Carmarthenshire. It began as a Norman earth and timber ringwork in the early 12th century, and the semicircular outer ditch still survives. The stone castle has a square inner ward with four round towers, a semi-circular outer wall and a massive gatehouse begun in 1388-89 by John of Gaunt.

The castle changed hands during the conflicts between Welsh and English forces, and was attacked during the Glyndŵr Rising. Later it fell into ruin before being taken into state care. It is now managed by Cadw. Film fans may recognise it as the setting for the first scene after the titles in Monty Python and the Holy Grail. Local folklore also says the countryside nearby is haunted by the headless ghost of Gwenllian ferch Gruffudd.

Tip: Look for the inner ward's four towers, which were raised in height in the 1390s to overlook the outer ward.

Folly Farm began as a dairy farm and has grown into an award-winning family attraction with four areas: a farmyard, a zoo, an undercover vintage funfair with a Wurlitzer organ, and play areas. The zoo has over 200 species, including African lions, Humboldt and Macaroni penguins, and critically endangered eastern black rhinos in Kifaru Reserve.

The large undercover Jolly Barn has horses, goats, sheep, pigs and smaller petting animals. Outdoor paddocks lie across the A478, and a tractor-driven land-train tours them in the late morning and mid-afternoon. Fairground rides cost extra, but there is plenty to do without them. It suits families with children of all ages, and anyone who enjoys animals.

Tip: Pre-booking a date isn't required, and online tickets save 5%. A free return visit within seven days is offered if you can't see everything in one day, but get the ticket validated before you leave.

Carmarthen Castle is a ruined medieval fortress in the county town of Carmarthen, on a high terrace overlooking the tidal River Towy. It began as an early 1100s timber motte and bailey, was rebuilt in stone and was captured, destroyed and rebuilt many times. Owain Glyndŵr took it in 1405, and Henry VII's father, Edmund Tudor, died here as a prisoner in 1456.

The imposing 13-metre-high gatehouse on Nott Square is the surviving landmark, and the castle has shaped the town's streets and property boundaries. Later it served as the site of the county jail, designed by John Nash. Cromwell ordered the castle dismantled after the Civil War. It will suit history fans, and anyone happy to explore ruins and picture how much has happened here.

The Boathouse in Laugharne is where Dylan Thomas lived with his family between 1949 and 1953. Set in a cliff overlooking the Tâf estuary, it is now a museum run by Carmarthenshire County Council. The interior has been returned to its 1950s appearance, with a recording of Thomas's voice playing in the background, and it holds memorabilia and some original furniture, including his father's desk.

Close to the house is the clifftop writing shed, reconstructed with a writing table littered with discarded papers, as though Thomas were in the process of working on a book. Other exhibits include a bust once owned by Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor, a letter from former US President Jimmy Carter, and a 1936 photograph of Thomas that was taken into space aboard the Space Shuttle Columbia. It suits anyone interested in Thomas's life and work.

Tip: Visit the writing shed close to the main house, where Thomas did most of his writing, and look across the estuary that inspired "Over Sir John's Hill".

The National Botanic Garden of Wales is in Llanarthney, in the River Tywi valley. It is both a visitor attraction and a centre for botanical research and conservation. The centrepiece is the Great Glasshouse, the world's largest single-span glasshouse at 110 m long and 60 m wide. It stands virtually on the site of Cockerell's mansion, the new Middleton Hall.

The garden sits on the historic Middleton Hall estate, which is registered Grade II* for its special historic interest. Much of the original waterscape has been restored, with cascades on the western approach to the Glasshouse. The view from the east side of the mansion has also been restored, stretching out towards Paxton's Tower in the distance. Experts say it helps visitors understand what "picturesque" meant to the great landscape architects of the late eighteenth century.

Tip: Look out across the restored eastern view towards Paxton's Tower, which was designed to be seen from the mansion's east side.

The National Waterfront Museum in Swansea's Maritime Quarter tells the story of industry and innovation in Wales over the last 300 years. It is part of Amgueddfa Cymru – Museum Wales, housed in an original listed warehouse linked to an ultra-modern slate and glass building.

Inside, cutting-edge interactive technology sits alongside traditional displays, and you can go as deep into the exhibitions as you like. You'll find the Transport, Materials and Networks galleries and the "big things" that shaped the nation's industrial history. The Made in Wales gallery shows objects and artefacts from 1930 to the present day.

It is also one of the first museums in the UK to offer multilingual voiceovers and British Sign Language captioning on all interactive content.

Tip: There's no dedicated car park, but several pay and display car parks are a short walk away. For satnav, the museum's site suggests postcode SA1 3ST.

Swansea Museum is the oldest museum in Wales, opened in 1841 in a Grade II* listed neo-classical building in the Maritime Quarter. Its six galleries hold objects from Swansea, Wales and the wider world, with everything from an Egyptian mummy to a Welsh kitchen. Temporary exhibitions change through the year, so there is usually something different to see.

The museum also runs the Tramshed on Dylan Thomas Square, a conservatory-style gallery with a double-decker tram and a reconstruction of the 1804 horse-drawn Mumbles train, the first passenger railway service in the world. It suits history fans and anyone who likes a browse through local stories. There is an outdoor picnic area, a shop and toilets on site, and entry is free.

Tip: Parking at the museum is limited to a few free spaces, so the City Gates NCP or East Burrows Road car parks, both about a 4-minute walk away, are a good fallback.

Carreg Cennen Castle stands on a high rocky outcrop above the River Cennen, near the village of Trap and four miles south east of Llandeilo. It sits within the Brecon Beacons National Park and is cared for by Cadw. The castle you see today was probably built by John Giffard and his son after Edward I's conquest of Wales.

Inside are six towers, all of different shapes, and a great twin-towered gatehouse. The east range includes a hall, kitchens, a chapel and the King's Chamber, with a carved stone fireplace and windows looking out over impressive views to the south. Three drawbridges once guarded the way to the inner ward. In the south-east corner, steps lead down to a vaulted passage and a natural cave beneath the castle, which runs deep into the hillside. Castell Farm, near the car park, has a tearoom and shop in a converted threshing barn.

Tip: The castle is reached by a steep climb up the hill from Castell Farm, near the car park, so wear sensible footwear.