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Carmarthen Campus

Cultural Programme

The Cultural Programme is an important part of your time at Trinity Saint David. The Programme provides a variety of excursions to various locations in Wales and England throughout the academic year. These excursions vary slightly from year to year, but usually include some of the following:

Pembrokeshire Coast

Wales boasts some of the most spectacular coastline in Great Britain. The Pembrokeshire Coast has miles and miles of natural attractions - cliffs, beaches, caves and of course wildlife. Visitors can spot seals, puffins, wild horses and many other wild creatures in their natural habitat. This trip also includes a visit to St David’s, Britain’s smallest City! This is home to a splendid 12th Century Abbey, which was built on the ancient home and church of St. David, patron Saint of Wales.

Llansteffan & Dylan Thomas’ Boathouse

Llansteffan is a small village just 8 miles from Carmarthen. Yet nestled on the shore of the Tywi Estuary, this village is home to Llansteffan Castle, a 12th century Norman Castle. Following a short climb up a hill, views of both the sands and countryside are breathtaking. Nearby is Laugharne, and the Dylan Thomas Boathouse. Dylan Thomas is maybe Wales’ most famous poet. He spent the last four of his short 39 years composing his poetry in the little village of Laugharne.

Cardiff

The capital of Wales Cardiff was once the world’s leading coal-exporting port. Now, it is a destination point for tourists and native Welsh alike. An inviting new waterfront, set along Cardiff Bay, is the home to the Millennium Centre (a state of the art theatre/opera House). You can also visit the Millennium Stadium, the home of Welsh rugby! Cardiff has a rich history dating back 2,000 years. Its famous castle, built in Roman times, was ‘recreated’ as a medieval-styled showpiece in the nineteenth century. Other popular attractions in the area include the striking Civic Centre, which houses the National Museum, and the city’s Victorian arcades, which offer great shopping.

Big Pit

Coal mining is an integral part of Welsh History. Big Pit was a working coalmine until it closed in 1980. Then in 1983 it became a museum of the South Wales mining industry and is now known as the National Mining Museum of Wales. The highlight of the visit is the hour-long underground tour, led by ex-miners, which takes you down in the pit cage to walk through underground roadways, air doors, stables and engine houses built by generations of mineworkers. On the surface you can explore the colliery buildings - the engine-house, the blacksmiths' workshop and the pithead baths.

Aberystwyth

Once a mining-town, Aberystwyth is now a cultural hub, hosting the National Library of Wales. The National Library is one of the great libraries of the world. Since 1911 it has enjoyed the right to collect, free of charge, a copy of every printed work published in Britain and Ireland. It also houses exhibitions and is home to many rare Welsh and Celtic manuscripts. You will be able to take the cliff railway up Constitution Hill and visit Aberystwyth Castle, a Norman Castle built on the site of an Iron Age fortification. Shopping and walks along the promenade are also a must for any visitor!

London

Students spend the whole weekend exploring London: Among the many places of interest are Westminster; Buckingham Palace; Covent Garden; Trafalgar Square; Oxford Street and Knightsbridge. Students are free to plan their own activities, from sightseeing to seeing a West End Musical!

Swansea

Swansea is the birthplace of Dylan Thomas and Catherine Zeta Jones! Castle Square lies at the heart of Swansea city centre and is surrounded by an array of shops and cafes on one side and Swansea Castle on the other. Castle Square stages many events throughout the year, including fayres, markets and open-air concerts.

Hay-on-Wye & Caerphilly Castle

Hay-on-Wye is situated just inside the Welsh border to England. Historically, it has been a place of many battles, coming under attack from both Welsh and English. The town is one of the most visited places in Wales; the Art and Antique enthusiast can browse through the many excellent galleries in the town, and the book-lover can visit the unparalleled thirty plus bookshops. Caerphilly Castle, surrounded by water, is another Norman Castle built on the site of a Roman fort. Caerphilly is one of the greatest surviving fortresses of the medieval western world. With its massive gatehouses, the scale of its water defences makes it one of the most impressive castles in Europe.

Bath, England

For two thousand years Bath has been a spa town, built around Britain’s only hot mineral springs. For centuries this natural phenomenon has attracted visitors to Bath, and led to a unique historic urban environment around the springs. The Romans were the first to realise the value of the hot mineral water. They built their religious spa of Aquae Sulis around the three springs. The Roman Baths is below the modern street level and has four main features, the Sacred Spring, the Roman Temple, the Roman bath house and finds from Roman Bath. The Georgian Pump Room is on the ground level. Bath is also known for its shops and was once the home to literary figure, Jane Austin. This visit is always a favourite among international students!

Excursions take place on weekends and you are accompanied by members of the International Office who provide historical and cultural information. This is a great way to get to know Wales and England in a safe and friendly environment. 

 “Cultural Programmes are an enlightening experience”  International student 2010