Beautiful old ruined castle on the Welsh Gwyr peninsular…read more Well worth the excursionj

The Arts Centre showed a live RSC production of Love's Labour's Lost tonight and it was a lot of…read morefun. We sat on the balcony where the seats were arranged as in a theatre. Downstairs there were chairs grouped around tables and I saw people enjoying the Shakespeare while at the same time enjoying their wine. A little bar is on site selling spirits, wine and coffee. They might sell beer too but I never look for it so I can't remember seeing it. There was a cafe next to the bar but it was closed during the intermission, it looked cute though. It was my first time at the Arts Centre and I'll be going back now that I know what an impressive and diverse line up it has. There is a small car park across the road but we found parking on the street as it was after 6pm.

I would totally agree with the first review of this place. It's a really good place for…read moreentertainment in Pontardawe, something you'd expect to find in a large town or city. I've been lucky enough to see a few great acts there - Jo Brand was my favourite to see, she was hilarious. My husband has just been to see Fish (remember him? From Marillion??). There's always a good atmosphere whenever I've been there. They also show films there, usually weekly. These showings tend to be quite quiet, and it's cheaper than going to any other cinema around here. Well worth a visit - keep an eye on their website or ask to be added to their mailing list. For the more famous names, they sell out quite quickly, so book sooner rather than later!

A small friendly museum in easy walking distance from the docks. It has a car park with a few…read morespaces and is wheelchair accessable. Regular interesting exhibitions. We popped in to see a fascinating one on the second world war, with interesting details about local charicters. There was also a wonderful photography exhibition and a room of local historical pottery amongst other things. Shop and friendly staff on site. Worth the visit (free by the way!!).

I was quite disappointed at the Swansea Museum. I remember how much I enjoyed visiting the Maritime…read moreMuseum when I was a child, but I definitely didn't see the same excitment in my children when we visited. The museum is a somewhat disjointed affair, taking in all kinds of themes, transport, industry, technology, culture and history. When we visited, a lot of the 'hands-on' exhibits for kids were out of order or simply not working. The building itself is fabulous, obviously a lot of money has been spent, but it just didn't do it for us. Maybe we're just spoiled or something.

My dear friend,Aeronwy's ashes are buried here, in the…read moregarden of the home she writes about so poignantly in "My Father's Places" - Constable 2009 This estuary is one of the most peaceful places on the Planet. To make the perfect visit,stay at Castle House (reviewed elsewhere) which is superb & walk through the woods of the poems of Dylan : "Now as I was young & easy under the apple boughs" or drink in the local pubs; spend the day on the flats & imagine the boat with Caitlin & the children sailing back to the Boat House. Visit Swansea & the Dylan Thomas Centre

The poet's old home in a glorious location with a panoramic view across the estuary and the Heron…read morepriested shore. The house is now a museum dedicated to his life and work. It's fascinating to wander around and there is an audio-visual display in one of the upstairs rooms. You can also visit Thomas's 'writing shed' where he did much of his work. Although it is kept locked, you can look through the window at a reconstruction of what it would have been like (either that or it hasn't been touched since he left!) complete with empty beer bottles.

Originally built in the 19th century, this was first known as Pembrey New Harbour. The marina…read moreopened in 2004 and the whole area is still being improved as part of the Millennium Coastal Park project. The harbour has commercial (fishing) and pleasure craft. There are pleasant walks around the whole harbour area with great views of the beaches, lighthouse, and across the Loughor Estuary to the Gower Peninsula. (The Millennium Coastal Path also follows the coast in both directions from here.) You can find some memorials around the harbour which commemorate the flight of Amelia Earhart, the first woman to cross the Atlantic by air. In 1928 her seaplane 'Friendship', flown all the way from Newfoundland, landed here and Amelia and her two pilots were welcomed by the people of the town. There is a huge long stay, and a short stay, car park (pay and display) - just follow the signs. It's about the same distance to walk to the town from either. There are public toilets in the long stay car park but they leave something to be desired, having been subjected to a degree of vandalism recently (there are much better toilets at the station).

The coastline near Cardiff that's known as the Glamorgan Heritage Coast is a wild and ruggedly…read morebeautiful coastline that's well worth exploring if you visit or live in Cardiff. It's easiest if you have your own transport, so you can stop off along the way when something catches your eye. Situated in Dunraven Park at Southerndown, the Heritage Coast Centre itself offers information about the coastline and its features, and incorporates a small shop as well. It isn't amazing in itself, but it is a good starting point for exploring some of the highlights of the heritage coast, which stretches for 14 miles from West Aberthaw to Porthcawl. Overlooking the Glamorgan Heritage Coast Centre itself are the ruins of Dunraven Castle, which was actually not really a castle but a 19th century mansion - sat above banded sandstone cliffs. From there, on your journey along the coast you get to see some beautiful low cliffs, Celtic hill forts, and lots of sand dune areas (mainly in the west), including some of the largest dunes in Europe at Merthyr Mawr Warren. For swimming, Southerndown is a good spot, and about halfway along the coast is medieval St. Donat's Castle, now a school, which offers guided tours in the summer months when school's out. Footpaths snake along the coast for walkers - but sometimes suffer landslips, so watch out.

Useful place to pick up leaflets on the area including ones describing walks along the nearby…read morecliffs. There is also a good range of postcards and greetings cards, and some inexpensive gifts with 'Glamorgan heritage Coast' on the side (pens, pencils - only 50p each) Friendly staff too. There's a disabled toilet (radar key) outside in a separate block and disabled parking bays immediately outside.

Beautiful spot, just behind the car park for the sand dunes near Merthyr Mawr village - hidden up…read morethe bank and easily missed. Not really a castle but an old fortified manor house built around 14th century and abandoned in 19th century - (why would they do that?? A ye olde pad by one of the biggest sand dune playgrounds in Europe, where scenes from Lawrence of Arabia were filmed??). Anyway, they did leave it and it's now a bit of a ruin but just as fascinating - you can crawl through little crevices, pick your way up a dank staircase and peer into the gloom of the dark cellar room. Shame they've blocked off access to the uppermost walls, that was fun and nicely dangerous - you'll just have to be more inventive. (These health and safety people perhaps should be hung out to dry, maybe from a high window!) Lovely surrounds, green and brown and red woodlands, huge golden sand dunes - bring a picnic (and maybe a thermal blanket) for out door dining needs, excellent.

This a ruined manor house within the woodland set amidst the Merthyr Mawr dunes a couple of miles…read morefrom Bridgend I used to play here as a child and still have very fond memories Worth having a look around if you can spare the time

The Body shop in Swansea is pleasantly laid out and recently has had lots of offers(as have many…read moreother stores at this recession time) but since its sell out from the sadly demised Anita Roddick it seems to have lost some of its purity and original ethos. I bought a couple of gift sets recently and was disappointed in particular with one for a member of family, a rather chemically smelling aftershave which they tried once but noone liked so its gone to the back of a cupboard. I love the small of their coconut body butter but my skin reacts to it, once upon a time their products seemed to be far purer and without any issue. Staff are generally friendly within the shop.

I agree with Juno, that the lay-out here is good. This is the best Body Shop I've been to and the…read morestaff is very friendly. We bought gifts for friends who like baths and were given samples of various hand products, which was a really nice touch. These products are not really my thing - I too prefer natural products, but the chamomile eye make-up remover is brilliant and I know many people who agree.