West Wales for incentives, team building and corporate away days

Just under two hours from Cardiff (Caerdydd) the capital city, with frequent public transport links running from major UK cities you'll discover West Wales. Home to the UK's only coastal national park, set in acres of relaxing countryside, with its dramatic coastline and accessible coast path, Pembrokeshire is the perfect retreat for luxury, wellbeing and adventure. The county of Carmarthenshire, is also home of Wales' famous poet Dylan Thomas and the National Botanic Garden of Wales and is an inspirational place for creative thinking. Whilst the city of Swansea, is known for its university strengths and sport plays a big feature here, home to rugby and football with two impressive stadiums the Parc -y Scarlets Stadium and The Swansea.com Stadium (formerly Liberty Stadium).

With activities such as hiking, kayaking and coasteering, luxurious venues and accommodation to choose from and with mouthwatering dining options, using locally sourced and seasonal Welsh produce fresh from the surrounding farms and waters, its easy to see why this area of Wales is the choice for inspirational incentives, team building events and corporate away days. 

In the beautiful city of St Davids (Tyddewi), the smallest city in the UK, discover the story of Wales' patron saint, St David. Take a curated VIP tour around this fabulous compact city, including a visit to St Davids Cathedral and St Davids Bishop’s Palace, and discover the fascinating history and some local tales of the city too.

Just a short stroll to the top of the city discover Oriel y Parc gallery and visitor centre. The gallery is home to Amgueddfa Cymru – National Museum in Wales Pembrokeshire and displays works of art from the national collection, using the spectacular landscape as its inspiration. Here teams can unleash the creative side in the discovery room and find out who has the best artistic skills.

Time for a spot of lunch. Then just a short stroll back to the square in St Davids where St Davids Gin and Kitchen is located, serving only the best in season local produce, including Ramsey Island Hoggett, Solva lobster and its very own St Davids gin and local beers for a refreshing break. 

Set on the edge of St Davids and overlooking the beautiful rugged coastline is Twr y Felin. Formally a windmill and now Wales' first contemporary art hotel, featuring over 100 original pieces. This luxurious 4 star boutique hotel has 21 exquisite bedrooms including two unique suites ideal for those special rewards. Relax and soak in the atmosphere, choose from luxurious wellbeing treatments, or a local coast foraging experience. West Wales foraging experts offer a four hour journey to learn more about the local history and marine environment and discover edible seafood to cook up right there and try.

Twr y Felin's award winning AA Rosette 'Blas' Restaurant, meaning taste in Welsh, offers locally sourced produce, picked by season and a huge selection of local drinks and world wines. The private dining experience will make any team feel rewarded and relaxed ready for a good night’s sleep.

Be an adventure pioneer. Providing skills and confidence in a range of outdoor activities, TYF offer outdoor adventures to refresh the mind and challenge inner strength.

Discovered in Pembrokeshire, get ready for an adrenaline fuelled coasteering adventure. With changing tides, waves and wildlife, every coasteering trip is unique. One minute swim lazily past the scenery, the next be rinsed in Neptune’s own washing machine. There is also the possibility of seeing peregrine falcons and swimming with a seal. During an average two hour session scramble over rocks, swim into canyons, explore caves, bodysurf the breakers, peer into rock pools, learn about geology and leap off a cliff or two into the stunning blue waters below. An experienced team supports and encourages at each step. The activity has been described as amazing and inspiring! 

After an adrenaline fuelled morning, its time for lunch, dine at Blas restaurant with one of TYF's leading experts in sustainability and training programmes. With a designed and bespoke team package, to educate and create personal development interventions, it is a great opportunity to further build relationships and trust, to achieve a shared end goal for organisations.

Time to reflect and travel a little further inland to St Brides Spa, this 4 star hotel has clients wellbeing covered. With stunning coastal views of Saundersfoot, the hotel offers 34 beautifully designed bedrooms and six, two bedroom apartments for a relaxing night’s sleep.

The three meeting rooms can accommodate between 10 - 200 people for meetings, receptions, dinners and product launches. 

The marine spa is a sanctuary for tranquillity and relaxation, with its treatments, infinity hydro pool and thermal spa bathing experiences, there’s no better reward after a hard day’s work.

Private dining and receptions are available here, with the chef using only the best locally produced ingredients from this coastal town. Carefully selecting menus to match the season’s local produce provides the best quality of Welsh food.

Fill up on a hearty Welsh breakfast and then discover some of the Welsh food and drink on offer. 

Just 30 minutes inland and across lush countryside in the town of Haverfordwest is Wickedly Welsh Chocolate Company, a family run business passionate about confectionery. Discover more about the sustainably sourced process of chocolate making with a demonstration, before becoming chocolatiers and creating a personal selection of chocolates to indulge in and take home, a piece of Wales.

From here head east and just 40 minutes by road, travel to the glorious countryside village of Llandarrog in Carmarthernshire and home to Coles, distillers of fine Welsh spirits and the first rum distillery in Wales. A private tour provides an opportunity to experience the whole process from grain to glass, of this Welsh family run business, who are also brewers of Welsh ales and ciders.Spend some time browsing the gift shop which has a range of products to take home and sample. 

Lunch stop at the White Hart thatched inn and brewery. This 600 year old thatched pub and restaurant makes up the final part of the Coles business experience. With traditional log fires, oak beamed ceilings it’s a place to relax and enjoy a hearty lunch.

The Dylan Coastal Resort in Laugharne is a brand new redeveloped luxury resort. With captivating views across the breathtaking estuary that inspired great Wales' greatest poet. This tranquil resort with first class facilities and innovative treatments and therapies and high standard of accommodation makes the perfect wellness incentive location for clients. The resort can be hired exclusively for groups and the onsite restaurant provides a breathtaking setting for receptions and product launches. 

With an abundance of wildlife to discover across this beautiful part of Wales, clients are spoilt for choice with which to choose from. Exclusive tours and workshops are on offer, from wildlife photography workshops on Skomer Island the home of puffins, dolphin spotting on rib boats at high speed, to leisurely boat trips discovering all sorts of wildlife including seals and seabirds and bespoke fishing adventures. 

The National Botanic Garden of Wales is a botanical garden near Carmarthenshire is a perfect place to relax and explore the botanical research and conservation on offer here. With eight meeting spaces for hire for all types of events from private tours, product launches and receptions to small meetings and large conferences up to 1,000 delegates, it also features the world's largest single-span glasshouse. 

Fforest offer teams the space to do something different. Fforest have been hosting teams and events for 10 years and promote creativity in their 200 acres of outdoor space. From barns to big tents and intimate spaces to areas that can seat up to 200 for a meal together. Located in Cilgerran, an unspoilt and uncrowded green area of Wales. A great base for activities and exploring with great food and culture to discover too. Off the beaten path find a place to plan, design, work, sing and play. 

Discover more about leadership and teamworking to help reconnect and maximise efficiency with a corporate getaway with Preseli Venture. Based in the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park stay in the onsite 5* eco lodge and experience home cooked local produce. With tailor made packages and activities such as coasteering, sea kayaking and surfing suitable for a range of fitness levels. Preseli Venture place a lot of emphasis on sustainable methods and will help businesses develop sustainable working relationships, promoting mindfulness which will leave teams feeling rewarded, relaxed and focussed.

This article has been designed to showcase just a flavour of the experiences on offer in the region. If you would like further ideas or information please get in touch with the team who will be happy to help. 

The new Museum of Land Speed is now open and tells the story of Pendine and the last speed records set on the sands. With meeting space for up to 50 delegates theatre style, innovate space for product launches and Caban the new beachside accommodation with 14 rooms, sleeping up to 43 guests in double, triple and multi guest rooms, Pendine Sands Museum of Land Speed makes a great location for business events.

The seven miles of Pendine Sands in Carmarthenshire has always been a notorious setting for land speed records, especially in the 1920s. Sir Malcolm Campbell and John Parry Thomas (nicknamed the daredevil Thomas) competed with each other to be the fastest.

Delegates at the museum can experience an interactive experience, with the thrill and exhilaration of racing along Pendine sands, feel the wind in their faces, and hear the noise of and smell of the engine & bumps in the sand. Video, sound and touch screens bring the exhibition to life. Interactives sit alongside real objects and are based on the principles of Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics. The interactive based on Guy Martin’s land speed record on a bicycle brings the story of cycling full circle from the Victorian era.

Exhibits include the working race car ‘Babs’ and the wrecked parts of Babs currently in storage and the museum’s collection of motorbikes. The interactives explore many subjects – including why Pendine sand makes such a good beach to race on. 

The exhibition highlights inspirational individuals who have a passion for speed, whilst also being encouraged to consider the environmental concerns behind land speed records by exploring the differences between engines powered by fossil fuels and those powered by electric.