I stopped at cute Welsh market town you can easily drive past and want to go back

I have driven through the market town of Llandovery many, many times on my way to family holidays in Pembrokeshire. The Carmarthenshire town sits on the banks of the River Tywi at the edge of the Brecon Beacons and the Cambrian Mountains.

We often stop off as there's a large car park where you can climb the hill to see the 13th-century castle ruins and statue of Welsh resistance hero Llywelyn ap Gruffydd Fychan. It's something my children have done since they were little, as a way for us all to stretch our legs during the journey.

However, I have to confess, I have never stepped foot into the actual town. Until now. I needed to post a letter as recorded delivery, so for the first time, I crossed the main road and ventured in the opposite direction to the castle ruins. And I realise that, all these years, I've been missing an absolute treat.

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Bunting zig-zagged across the main street, dancing happily in the breeze, connecting the bright-coloured buildings, and giving the whole place a joyous feeling of celebration, like we'd just stepped into a royal jubilee or street fayre from years gone by. It felt like stepping back in time but it had a vibrancy that was equally fresh and exciting.

I wanted to explore every little gift shop, charity store, alleyway and retro vintage boutique and pop into every pub for a pint but there wasn't time as we had a beach to reach and no member of my family was going to wait whilst I shopped. Upon my return, I looked a little further into just what makes Llandovery so special and this is what I found.

King Charles chose the Llwynywermod Estate, close to Llandovery, as his personal home in Wales when he was Prince of Wales and it's easy to see why. The estate is still owned by the Duchy today.

Described as 'the beating heart of drover country' (that is people who drove livestock to market), weekly livestock sales are big business in Llandovery. We've witnessed this ourselves in the car park next to the castle and there's an annual sheep festival too.

You can visit the tourist information centre, the Llandovery Museum and the Penygawse Tea Rooms, which are said to serve the best coffee in Wales. Even the post office is full of gifts and the staff were super friendly. Find out more via the Discover Carmarthenshire website for lots of ideas and tips of local walking routes too.

Independent shops in Llandovery

These independent shops are on my to-do list when I return for a day out:

Books at the Dragon's Garden award-winning indie book shop

Llandovery Antiques Centre for 2,500 square feet of antiques and collectables

La Patisserie bakery and deli with amazing-looking pastries and bubble teas too

Myddfai Trading Company a social enterprise, which produces its own natural toiletries and fragrances

Bumblebees of Llandovery haberdashery

Lorwyn Gifts offering an array of gifts, children's clothes and toys

Davies and Co full of 'lovely things for you and your home'

How to get to Llandovery from Birmingham

I definitely plan to return and have a proper mooch, especially as I can just hop on a train from Birmingham New Street to Llandovery, switching at Newport and Swansea. It takes just under three hours to drive there via the M5 and the A40, traffic permitting.