Laugharne (Dylan Thomas)
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Carmarthenshire Carmarthenshire 21 Laugharne 22 LLansteffan WALES WALES a uDistance: 4¾ miles/7.5km uTime: 2½-3 hours uGrade: Easy uDistance: 9¾ miles/15.5km uTime: 5 hours uGrade: Moderate B plan your walk plan your walk see Ure see Ure age 14 age 14 FEAT FEAT on p on p Photo: Photo: fionabarltrop fionabarltrop route route s tart/parking Castle s tart/parking Laugharne Castle (foreshore) car park, Looking across the Beach car park, SA33 5JP, and the river Corran. Laugharne, SA33 4sG, tywi to ferryside. grid ref sn352104 grid ref sn301106 – nB Is it for me? much of route Car park floods during follows well waymarked chosen by… Start highest tides – check tide chosen by… clockwise, with a detour out Wales Coast Path, fiona barltrop 1The car park affords a fine tables on notice board. fiona barltrop to Black Scar, the former ferry including stretch along This short figure-of- view of Laugharne Castle, with Is it for me? easy walking Peacefully situated crossing point to Laugharne. quiet country lanes – like eight walk is one to the footbridge over the little along stretches of Wales beside the Tywi After an inland stretch along most of inland link section. Coast Path (including stiles none take your time over, not least River Corran in the foreground. estuary and overlooked by quiet lanes you rejoin the surfaced route to to enjoy the beautiful coastal The original castle was Boathouse) and other its fine 12th century castle, Wales Coast Path to the north planninG views and visit Dylan Thomas’ established in the 12th century paths and lanes. modest Llansteffan is a most appealing of Llansteffan for the return. nearest towns home, the Boathouse, along and later became a Tudor amount of ascent. little place. From the large st Clears & Carmarthen the way. He lived here with his mansion. Cross footbridge stiles 1 beach there are views across Start refreshments family between 1949 and 1953, and follow surfaced path to Ferryside, now linked by Exit car park at its far R Choice of places in planninG 1 the last four years of his life, along foreshore below castle a ferry crossing which was corner and follow surfaced Llansteffan including nearest town Laugharne Florries fish & chips at car ramparts. Continue to end path (Wales Coast Path/WCP) in which time he wrote many refreshments Choice in revived last year (2018) having park, Beach shop & tea major pieces. The house is now and up steps just beyond to Laugharne including last operated in the 1950s. uphill to a lane – good views room, inn at the sticks owned by Carmarthenshire Cliff Road and Dylan Thomas’ Ferryman Deli, Brown’s Llansteffan became a popular back over river as you ascend. and Castle inn. Farmers County Council and open writing shed (formerly hotel – bar & restaurant holiday destination when the Turn L, Plas Mansion in view arms, Llanybri throughout the year to visitors. a garage) on R. (If tide is and Boathouse tearoom railway arrived at Ferryside to R. At fork keep R. WCP Public toilets Llansteffan There is a furnished front too high and foreshore path Public toilets Laugharne in the mid 19th century, and then forks L through trees, car park at start Public transport Bus 222 Public transport Bus 227 parlour an exhibition area, a flooded walk along Wogan Carmarthen-Pendine visitors were ferried across but to visit castle continue from Carmarthen to shop and tearoom. The terrace St past entrance to castle, turn taf Valley Coaches the river in a sailing boat. up the private road to Castle Llansteffan, morris travel provides wonderful views of R into Market Lane and then (01994 240908) Today’s ferry is a purpose-built Hill Cottage and there bend (01267 235090) the Taf estuary and the Gower L to T-junction/Victoria St. Turn Maps Os explorer 177; amphibious boat, Glansteffan. round to L and carry on up to Maps Os explorer 177; beyond. Also worth a visit on R and then R along Cliff Road.) Landranger 159 This attractive walk initially castle ruins (free admission). Landranger 159 the walk is Laugharne Castle. Carry on past writing shed to ➥ follows the Wales Coast Path Retrace steps to rejoin the ➥ GRADIENT PROFILE GRADIENT PROFILE 600 600 400 400 200 200 metres metres 0 0 km 0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 km 0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 ✁ WALES WALES Carmarthenshire march 2019 Carmarthenshire march 2019 22 LLansteffan 21 Laugharne uOS Explorer map 177 uBuy maps at: ordnancesurvey.co.uk/shop uOS Explorer map 177 uBuy maps at: ordnancesurvey.co.uk/shop WCP passing a shelter where Boathouse below on R. there are steps down to the Well worth a visit. beach (an alternative route 5 from the car park). Beyond, 4 ⅜ mile/0.6km you come to a picnic table 2Continue following 3 e Survey. Media 001/19 e Survey. e Survey. Media 001/19 e Survey. C and information panel – (and C waymarked Wales Coast Path a great view over Tywi estuary, (WCP) which leads through rdnan woodland above the Taf rdnan with Gower’s Worms Head o o 3 visible in the distance). The 19 (maintain direction where a 19 path descends to Scott’s Bay road crosses). Thereafter path Date walke Date walke Date yright 20 and thereafter leads round yright 20 goes through fields to property P P o o C Wharley Point, an excellent called Delacorse. Carry on C 2 viewpoint overlooking the along its drive to a lane. confluence of Taf, Tywi and 1 ©Crown ©Crown 2 ©Crown Gwendraeth rivers which s art 1¾ miles/2.8km t D flow into Carmarthen Bay. D 3WCP turns sharp R but you Thereafter you turn inland keep ahead and very soon turn 1 s tart and L along a quiet lane, L and follow lane which bears and L at T-junction. Keep round to R. Continue to kissing ahead ignoring turns to R. gate on R and go through this time t Lane leads downhill towards time t down steps to churchyard Taf estuary. Before reaching bearing L past church. Steps on bottom of road WCP signpost L lead you across a footbridge 4 on R indicates your ongoing aken (over lane) into extension of aken route. 5¾ miles/9.2km to Lan Farm. Bear L at fork churchyard where white cross 3Turn R (leaving WCP) onto track and follow this marks grave of Dylan and 3½ miles/5.7km and continue up lane to hilltop largely enclosed path back Caitlin Thomas. At top of this 2The detour from here village of Llanybryi passing down towards Llansteffan. At part of churchyard go through information panels along the T-junction, go R and follow to Black Scar is well worth church on L. Go straight over end go through gate and on small gate and turn R along way and superb views over Orchard Park round, view over the effort if you have the time. at crossroads and keep ahead down road to junction. Cross bridleway to road junction Taf estuary. Laugharne soon on R. Continue Simply carry on down lane (R) at fork passing on L ruined and carry on down road (entrance to Laugharne Park along Orchard Park to another to gate and go through that Hen Gapel (Chapel). towards beach. Keep ahead resort on L). If tide was too 3⅓ miles/5.4km T-junction, go R past school yo yo to continue along the track into first car park and R along high earlier you could keep At fork leave WCP and and down Stoneway Road U U 4 r rating to another gate and open 6¾ miles/10.8km paved path by green back to r rating ahead along Cliff Road, bear R uphill. At next fork again (closed to vehicles). Keep grassy/marshy area beyond it. 4Take next R fork, a newly main car park. descend steps at Writing Shed bear R, then up steps and ahead at road junction to The Information panel amongst surfaced stretch of road. and thence back to car park. across fields over Sir John’s Hill. Grist and R to car park. vegetation over on L. Ferry Continue along track when it Otherwise turn R, then L along Turn L down access road. service from here to Laugharne ends. Keep ahead when you V iew the walk on Market Lane, turning R to Either turn R just before main V iew the walk on ceased to operate in 1958. reach a lane, passing turning op S Ma S online: © Country Wogan St and L back down road back down to WCP and op S Ma S online: © Country Retrace steps to pt 2 to on R. When another lane joins lfto.com/cwroutes to car park. For second loop retrace steps, or turn R down lfto.com/cwroutes rejoin WCP turning L. Follow from L you rejoin WCP continue on WCP in other main road, or – for a good view w w waymarked route northwards followed back to Llansteffan. IN ASSOCIATION WITH alking Mar direction initially along over Laugharne Castle – turn IN ASSOCIATION WITH alking Mar through fields – good views surfaced track, then fork R up briefly R at main road, cross, go over Taf – turning L when 8 miles/12.9km ch 2019 through woodland, signed up steps to residential estate, ch 2019 you reach a lane. 5Turn R along access road Dylan’s Birthday Walk: keep ahead along road to ✁.