The historic coastal village that's one of the UK's best hidden gems

This village really does have everything – beautiful nature, sandy beaches, scenic walks and a castle that's stood for centuries.

The UK has loads of lovely coastal places. Whether it’s Cornwall or the Scottish Highlands, there’s no shortage of great spots for a weekend trip.

But there’s one small place in Wales often called one of the “UK’s best-kept secrets” – and it’s not hard to see why.

Image credit: Photo © Robin Drayton (cc-by-sa/2.0)

It’s called Llansteffan, a peaceful village in West Wales, near the town of Carmarthen. Set along the River Tywi – the longest river in Wales – it was recently picked as the second-best village in the UK by Country Living.

Writer Claire Allen added it to her list after walking 4,000 miles around the UK coast.

Llansteffan has always been a local favourite. The village’s tourist group says it was once a popular holiday spot for miners and their families from the Rhondda Valleys back in the 1800s and 1900s.

The biggest highlight is Llansteffan Castle – a dramatic ruin that looks out over the village from a hilltop. The area was first used as a hillfort in the Iron Age, around 600BC. The Normans then turned it into a proper castle after 1100.

Image credit: Photo © Dylan Moore (cc-by-sa/2.0)

For hundreds of years, the Welsh and English fought over it, with the castle changing hands more than once.

The gatehouse with its two towers is still standing, and from the top you get amazing views of the river and countryside.

You can walk to the castle from the village by following a path up the hill. Along with its history, Llansteffan is known for being quiet and peaceful, with two beaches. The main beach is wide and sandy – great for paddling, swimming or going on long walks.

Nearby is Scott’s Bay – a hidden little beach with tall red and grey cliffs behind it.

Llansteffan may be small, but it’s packed with charm. Its natural beauty and calm vibe bring people back again and again – and many first-time visitors say they can’t believe they hadn’t discovered it sooner.

Remember - LeaveNoTrace!

As with anywhere outdoors, kindly keep these areas pristine and wild by taking all trash with you. The amount of complaints we have seen since the pandemic is crazy. It's really not that hard to take your rubbish with you!

Litter tends to spread, so if you see any and are able to pick it up and dispose of it outside the hidden gem, it will help keep the area tidy.

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