Discover Ferryside: Coast, History and Special Experiences

Ferryside combines the eventful history of Carmarthen Bay with a coastal landscape in which the river, mudflats and salt marshes are integral to the character of the village. A special experience is the Glansteffan Ferry, which crosses the River Tywi between Ferryside and Llansteffan. In Ferryside, it departs from the riverside area via the level crossing. Those travelling by bicycle can also take into account that, subject to available space, the ferry can carry up to five bicycles.

Coastal landscape and paths along the River Tywi

The mudflats and salt marshes in Ferryside Bay are an important area for thousands of overwintering wading birds. These include knots, dunlins and black-tailed godwits. For travellers who want to experience the landscape at their own pace rather than simply observe it, the Cliff Path offers a suitable starting point. This path forms part of the 870-mile Wales Coast Path. The section in question offers views across three estuaries and towards the Gower Peninsula.

When planning your holiday apartment or holiday house in Ferryside, you can therefore consider what kind of stay you are looking for: would you prefer to observe the coastal landscape and its birdlife, would you like to explore part of the Wales Coast Path, or are you interested in the connection between river, mudflats and local history? The available experiences give the trip different focal points, without every holiday day having to look the same.

Churches, traditions and historical traces

Historically, Ferryside was a crossing over the River Tywi for locals, traders and pilgrims travelling west. The religious buildings also tell the story of the village. St Thomas's Church was built in 1875–1876 in the Victorian Gothic style. The service “Hymns on the Beach” is also held annually at St Thomas.

St Ishmael offers visitors free coffee, tea, water and prayer stones every day. Those interested in religious sites and the traditional routes through the region can include this place in their travel plans. At low tide, stones become visible along the shore at Salmon Scar; they are the remains of a lost village. This lost village was St Ishmael itself. The tides give this historical clue a special, ever-changing setting.

The village's maritime history is also still evident. Memorial plaques stand in front of the entrance to the former lifeboat station. The lifeboat memorial recalls that, on 16 October 1886, ten people were rescued from the wreck of the Teviotdale of Glasgow. The first lifeboat in Ferryside arrived as early as 1835 to assist ships in the shallow waters and among the shifting sandbanks of Carmarthen Bay.

Shellfish, fishing and food from the coast

Ferryside was historically a fishing village at the centre of the shellfish-gathering industry in Carmarthen Bay. Shellfish are still gathered and traditional seine nets are still used for fishing in Ferryside today. This connection between the coast, craftsmanship and regional food can be experienced particularly vividly during a guided coastal foraging activity. Participants learn to find cockles, clams, oysters and sea plants such as sea trident.

If everything goes according to plan, participants in this foraging experience can prepare and eat their own zero-waste organic lunch on a handcrafted Solva Stone on the beach. This is an unusual way to experience the coast not only as a view, but also as part of a regional food culture.

Ferryside as a starting point for planning your trip

Looking for accommodation in Ferryside is particularly suitable for your trip if you want to combine wildlife observation, coastal paths, historical discoveries and local traditions. Families can vary their days: an excursion along the coast can be followed by a visit to historical sites, while the ferry connection to Llansteffan offers another opportunity to incorporate the River Tywi into the trip. Therefore, choose your holiday apartment or holiday house according to your preferred travel rhythm and the experiences that will appeal most to your group.

For further destinations in the surrounding area, you can also explore Ammanford, Cynghordy, Glanaman, Felindre, Laugharne, Henllan Amgoed, Hendy and Cross Hands.

For the higher-level travel overview: Carmarthenshire.