A Different Kind of Girls’ Weekend: Adventure and Creativity in Carmarthenshire
Curated getaways in south-west Wales are offering wellbeing and crafty fun for groups of women, set against a backdrop of stunning scenery. The scent of hand-poured candles filled the air in the Little Welsh Dresser, one of Llandeilo’s charming arts and crafts shops. This vibrant Welsh market town is a creative hub, known for weaving the famous Dinefwr wool blankets and boasting numerous galleries and antique stores. It’s a picturesque place to wander, with rows of handmade cards and mugs stamped with Welsh words catching the eye.
One mug featured the word Cwtch, pronounced “kutch”, which has no direct English translation. “It’s a big, warm hug,” explained the shop owner, “but also it’s a feeling, a sense of belonging.” This word would come to define our entire weekend, encapsulating the warmth and connection we experienced.
Embracing the Sisterhood Trend
Travelling with my friend Anna, we were here to try out Discover Carmarthenshire’s new “The Sisterhood” breaks, which tap into the growing trend of women swapping prosecco-fuelled girlie weekends for trips focused on new skills and wellbeing experiences. For those wanting pre-curated stays, there’s a Sisterhood Sorted section on the website, but groups of any size can create a bespoke trip by selecting west, central, or coastal Carmarthenshire.
They can choose from a list of places to stay, ranging from rustic barns to glamping pods, and then select experiences led by Wild Kin. This collective includes potters, painters, coastal foragers, horse whisperers, walking guides, makers, and massage therapists, offering a diverse array of activities to suit every interest.
Rustic Accommodation and Local Dining
We chose Ardderfin Farmhouse on the outskirts of historic Carmarthen, a rustic stone cottage complete with a clawfoot bath and a huge open fireplace. It reminded us of the cosy cottage in the film The Holiday, providing the perfect base for our adventures. After settling in, we drove 15 minutes into town for dinner at the New Curiosity, a weekends-only restaurant with a seasonal menu run by Rachel Williams and her husband-chef, Daniel.
“Carmarthen is still a community of farmers, and the Women’s Institute is still massive here,” Rachel shared. “Everyone at our tables tends to know each other – my home is your home.” I enjoyed a perfectly pink Welsh sirloin, savouring the local flavours and friendly atmosphere.
Pottery and Mindfulness on the Hill
Saturday morning brought low sun that cast silhouettes of skeletal trees across frosted fields as we wound up into the hills to meet Yoka Kilkelly, known as the “Dutch potter on the hill”. She runs her Siramik pottery studio from a converted barn on a sheep farm, with slate stone walls spattered with flecks of clay. We started with wedging, kneading the clay to soften it and ensure no air bubbles. “No potter has bingo wings,” Yoka smiled as we struggled, while she made her clay look as soft as bread dough.
We portioned our clay, thwacked lumps onto the potter’s wheel, and coaxed them into shape as they spun. “A person’s personality shapes their pot,” Yoka observed. My clay morphed into coffee cups, and Anna’s turned into a bowl, which we later daubed with glaze. “It’s a mindful practice,” she added. With shards of winter sun spearing through the studio windows and the earthy clay spinning in my palms, I felt profoundly present and connected to the moment.
Coastal Walks and Natural Beauty
In the afternoon, we drove toward Llansteffan for a short walk along the sands of the Tywi estuary. Atop a hill stood the crenelated shadow of 800-year-old Llansteffan Castle. The tide had drawn back, leaving a trail of bone-white cockle shells and shallow pools that reflected the pinkening sunset. Anna, a keen birder, scanned for curlews and egrets, camera at the ready. It was a joy to see her in her element, immersed in the natural beauty of the Welsh coastline.
Yoga and Willow Wreath Making
Returning to Ardderfin Farmhouse, we found our next activity waiting. Lowri Johnston, a yoga teacher and organic flower farmer based in nearby Nantgaredig, guided us through a gentle yoga session by the fire. Then, fuelled by brownies from a local bakery, she taught us to make willow wreaths gilded with ivy, eucalyptus, pine cones, and dried dahlias foraged from her own farm. “I love doing this because it embeds people in the seasons and land,” Lowri said.
She shared that the Welsh word for sisterhood is chwaeroliaeth, meaning “sisters together.” “In Wales, we have a history of women meeting, especially while making food – milking, churning butter, that sort of thing.” This sense of tradition and community added depth to our creative endeavours.
Gourmet Picnics and Cosy Evenings
After Lowri left, Anna and I dined on a gourmet picnic delivered by Wright’s Food, featuring homemade meatballs in tomato sauce followed by ginger cake with toffee sauce. We revived the fire and sat in deep sofas, talking into the wee hours as the embering wood hissed and crackled. It was a perfect end to a day filled with creativity and connection.
Jewellery Making and Welsh Stew
Sunday dawned with rain drifting across the fields as we drove to Newcastle Emlyn to meet Elen Bowen, a primary school teacher turned jeweller. She runs silver and gold jewellery-making workshops at her home, having started in 2023 after having twin girls and deciding on a career change. “I thought, heck, I’ll start an Instagram page and see how it goes – and it snowballed!” she exclaimed. This year, she was selected to craft the crown for best story writer in the National Eisteddfod, Wales’ largest annual festival celebrating Welsh literature, music, and arts.
Anna chose to make a bracelet, while I decided on a ring. With Elen’s guidance, we hammered, soldered, and polished, bringing our own personalities to the pieces, much like we had with the pottery. Afterwards, we gathered around the table to share bowlfuls of her homemade cawl, a traditional Welsh stew, adding a deliciously authentic touch to our experience.
A Weekend Defined by Cwtch
By the time we left, having hugged goodbye every woman we’d met, I reflected on the mug printed with cwtch. It wasn’t just a hug, but a sense of being gathered in by each of the creators we’d spent time with. This weekend was crafted together with fun, food, and a deeper sense of closeness, perfectly embodying the Welsh spirit of warmth and community. The Sisterhood breaks in Carmarthenshire offer a unique blend of adventure, creativity, and wellbeing, making them an ideal choice for women seeking meaningful getaways.
