I’ll never forget the drive down to our holiday cottage in Mynyddygarreg, perched on the mountainside overlooking Kidwelly in the Gower Peninsula. We’d piled into the car from Cardiff, full of that buzzy anticipation—you know, the kind where you’re imagining lazy beach days and cracking open a cold one at sunset. But about halfway there, disaster struck: the sat-nav decided to throw a wobbly and sent us down a narrow lane that turned into little more than a sheep track. We ended up proper lost, bumping along with hedges scraping the sides, laughing nervously as the kids in the back shouted “Are we there yet?” every two minutes. Turned out to be the perfect intro—nothing like a bit of unplanned adventure to kick things off.

When we finally rolled up, sweaty and triumphant, the first impressions were spot on. It’s a cracking five-bed cottage, cosy and welcoming with that lived-in charm that makes you feel at home straight away. Views over Kidwelly from up high? Chef’s kiss. We dumped the bags and cracked on with exploring, but the real magic happened when we veered off the obvious paths and stumbled into hidden gems by accident.

First off, we aimed for Kidwelly Castle, just two miles down the road—an imposing medieval beast with towers begging to be climbed. But instead of the main tourist drag, we took a wrong turn (sat-nav still sulking) and found ourselves on a quiet back path leading to the castle’s lesser-known river gate. It was brilliant: no crowds, just us poking around overgrown nooks where you could practically hear the echoes of knights past. The kids went wild imagining sieges, while I had a proper moment pretending I was a bard strumming an invisible lute. Gently reflecting there, aren’t we all just kids at heart chasing a bit of history?

The next day, hungry for more, we headed towards Pembrey Country Park, about 6.5 miles away. Again, we got lost—brilliantly so—missing the main entrance and ending up at a tucked-away corner of the woods. Discovered this secret meadow perfect for picnics, with trails snaking off into dunes we had all to ourselves. Forgot about the toboggan runs at first; instead, we wandered hidden paths alive with butterflies and wildflowers. Pure off-the-beaten-track bliss. By afternoon, we’d found our way to Cefn Sidan Beach, seven miles out, but skipped the car park hordes for a sneaky access point via a coastal path. Golden sands stretched forever, and we had a private cove for paddling and sandcastle empires. No ice cream vans blaring, just waves and gulls—paradise.

Getting lost became our theme. One evening, a “shortcut” home led to a forgotten village green in Mynyddygarreg itself, where locals were having a casual barbecue. We got chatting, scored some tips on nearby hidden lookouts with panoramic Gower views. Laughing about my dodgy navigation skills later over fish and chips, I realised these mishaps were the highlights. Who needs plans when stumbling on secret spots makes the best memories? If you’re after coast, countryside, and castles without the crowds, this mountainside hideaway in Mynyddygarreg is your ticket—especially if you embrace a bit of getting gloriously lost.