8 Interesting Things to Do in Laugharne Wales (plus Dylan Thomas’ Boathouse)
By: Author Angela Price
Posted on Last updated: February 23, 2024
Laugharne sits in Carmarthenshire and is a great place to visit if you are wondering what to do in West Wales.
With a magnificent castle, a charming town, and countryside and estuary walks, what’s not to like about Laugharne?
Add the Welsh poet Dylan Thomas’ boathouse and some quaint tea rooms to the mix, and you get an idea of what Laugharne offers the visitor.
From the A477, heritage signs for “Dylan Thomas’ Boathouse” will lead you along beautiful country roads and into Laugharne Town. You will find plenty of free parking – yes, free – right by the castle. This is where you can start exploring Laugharne’s heritage and cultural attractions.
We spent a day in Laugharne (pronounced Larne) during our week’s holiday in Pembrokeshire and loved it. I have shared some of the best things to do in Laugharne, which will help you plan your own day trip to this historic town.
This article may contain affiliate links – For more information, please read my disclaimer and privacy policy.
If you need to arrange travel insurance, car hire or accommodation? Please check out my resources page to help you plan your trip.
Table of Contents
Best Attractions to See in Laugharne
Laugharne castle.
The majestic castle in Laugharne stands on the banks of the Taf Estuary on Carmarthen Bay. It overlooks some of the most beautiful Welsh scenery.
Rolling hills, water trailing out along the estuary and glistening sandbanks all make for the most picturesque view.
Originally built in the 12th century as a Norman stronghold, the castle’s position along the River Taf made it a perfect defence point.
When it fell into disrepair, it was bought by a Tudor merchant and rebuilt as a mansion complete with Elizabethan gardens.
It also had connections to Dylan Thomas, who wrote: “Portrait of an Artist” in the castle’s summerhouse. The view of the Taf Estuary was an inspiration for his creative talents.
A great place to take photographs of the castle is from the car park. If you want to go inside the castle, you can view the towers and the summerhouse from closer proximity.
The entry fee is £4 (adult), and a small gift shop sells souvenirs and ice cream.
We are not wholly bad or good, who live our lives under Milk Wood. Dylan Thomas
Heritage Circular Walk – 5.5miles (moderate)
After crossing the bridge in the car park, the Heritage Walk starts at Laugharne Castle. The walk is part of the Wales Coast Path .
It passes Dylan Thomas’ Boathouse and writing shed along the “Dylan’s Walk” pathway. It continues along the path through woods and fields above the Taf Estuary.
A steep climb starting from the farmhouse (private) brings you out by a caravan park. Take a moment to enjoy the beautiful views before continuing along a narrow lane on the left-hand side.
This takes you to St Martin’s Church – the final resting place of Dylan Thomas and his wife, Caitlin. Follow the main road back to the castle, and you have completed the Laugharne heritage circular walk.
We enjoyed this walk but found the hill by the farmhouse quite challenging. It is a gravel path, and a hedgerow on either side makes it quite humid on a warm day. Take plenty of water with you on the walk.
Dylan Thomas’s Boathouse
One of the main reasons that visitors flock to Laugharne is to view Dylan Thomas’ boathouse , his home for the last four years of his life.
The author of the famous play “ Under Milk Wood ” wrote some of his best work in this idyllic location with views as far as the Gower Peninsula.
Inside the boathouse, you can see the family’s rooms, photographs, and information on his life and works. An audiovisual presentation portrays Dylan reading some of his work.
The boathouse has tea rooms for refreshments, including popular welsh cakes.
You can also peer inside Dylan Thomas’ writing shed on the pathway above the boathouse. We discovered it was once his garage before he transformed it!
a black-magical bedlam by the sea… timeless, beautiful, barmy – there is nowhere like it anywhere at all Dylan Thomas
Dylan’s Birthday Walk
Another beautiful walk you can do, in addition to the heritage circular route, is Dylan Thomas’ Birthday Walk.
In 1944, Dylan wrote ‘Poem in October’ about his birthday walk to the top of Sir John’s Hill. The uphill walk starts at the far end of the castle car park and is 2 miles long.
Enjoy the outstanding views of the Taf estuary, Dylan’s boathouse, the Gower Peninsula, Caldey Island and Tenby.
St Martin’s Church
If you are a Dylan Thomas devotee, this is the final resting place of Dylan and his wife, Caitlin. A simple white wooden cross marks Dylan’s grave.
Take a moment to wander around the graveyard while you are there. The crumbling tombs and tilted headstones are very atmospheric.
The church is on the main street into Laugharne and is entered via a 14th-century Lychgate. The church can also be accessed at the end of the circular heritage walk.
Though lovers be lost, love shall not; And death shall have no dominion. Dylan Thomas
Laugharne High Street
Laugharne is a small town with plenty of character. A few independent shops, a deli, tea rooms and several pubs offer visitors a good choice of places to eat and shop.
Walk from St Martin’s Church back to the car park and admire the traditional houses and the town hall clock tower. Keep an eye open for the bust of Dylan Thomas in a small garden near the car park.
Public conveniences (20p charge) are near the castle entrance.
Useful Information About Laugharne
Places to stay in laugharne.
Browns – The iconic boutique hotel and restaurant dating back to 1752 was Dylan Thomas’ favourite drinking spot. He used to give out the pub’s telephone number as his own he was there so often.
The Owl and The Pussycat – If you want sandwiches, cakes, and a good cuppa, I recommend you try the food here.
The Boat House Bed and Breakfast – some rooms with castle views.
Alternative Accommodation in Laugharne
Poetry is not the most important thing in life… I’d much rather lie in a hot bath reading Agatha Christie and sucking sweets. Dylan Thomas
Relax on Pendine Sands
After a day of exploring Laugharne Town, head to Pendine Sands, a 7-mile stretch of the Pembrokeshire coastline where land-speed records have been made.
The most famous record was set in 1924 by Sir Malcolm Campbell in his car, Blue Bird.
Watch locals participate in popular beach sports like power kiting, land yachting and kite buggy racing or relax with a locally made ice cream.
Events in Laugharne
The annual Laugharne Weekend features music, poetry and book readings.
Please Pin for Future Travel to Wales
Are you looking for further travel inspiration for Wales? Please check out the following posts:
Pen Y Fan, Wales: The Truth about Walking to the Summit as a Novice
Ultimate Brecon Beacons 3-Night Travel Itinerary Guide
10 Great Reasons to Visit St Davids: The Smallest City in the UK
How to See Puffins in Wales on Skomer Island, Pembrokeshire
How to Walk from Bosherston Lily Ponds in Pembrokeshire to the Beach
Angela Price is an accomplished travel writer bringing extensive expertise and passion to the world of travel. With over 35 years of globetrotting adventures under her belt and with a keen eye for unique experiences, she has established herself as an authoritative voice in travel, offering invaluable insights for fellow adventurers seeking to uncover the delights of worldwide destinations. Her motto is “live life wandering not wondering”
I would like to receive occasional updates and new travel posts.
Notify me of follow-up comments by email.
Monday 14th of June 2021
Lovely post Angie. What a sweet place. I've long been a fan of Dylan Thomas, and was actually in a stage production of Under Milk Wood many years ago. Why is there a strike-through over Under Milk Wood?
Linda (LD Holland)
Friday 11th of June 2021
All I am reading about Wales is moving it higher on my travel wish list! I can see why you would say that Laugharne ticks all the boxes. I would not know where to start if I only had one day to visit. The circular walk sounds lovely but at my pace it might take us awhile to capture all the views. And then we would not want to miss Dylan’s Birthday Walk for those views.
Interesting explorations and walks at Laugharne. I can see myself doing this, at a leisurely pace!
Oh how lovely! This indeed is exactly how I would like to spend a day - visiting a charming castle in the English countryside and then a small town for a delicious lunch. He said it best... a black-magical bedlam by the sea… timeless, beautiful, barmy – there is nowhere like it anywhere at all.
WhereAngieWanders
Monday 17th of October 2022
It is in Wales, not England, but you are right about it being a beautiful place to visit.
@Renee, It’s in Wales. The Welsh Countryside,not England.
- 2 Get around
<a href=\"https://tools.wmflabs.org/wikivoyage/w/poi2gpx.php?print=gpx&lang=en&name=Laugharne\" title=\"Download GPX file for this article\" data-parsoid=\"{}\"><img alt=\"Download GPX file for this article\" resource=\"./File:GPX_Document_rev3-20x20.png\" src=\"//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f7/GPX_Document_rev3-20x20.png\" decoding=\"async\" data-file-width=\"20\" data-file-height=\"20\" data-file-type=\"bitmap\" height=\"20\" width=\"20\" class=\"mw-file-element\" data-parsoid='{\"a\":{\"resource\":\"./File:GPX_Document_rev3-20x20.png\",\"height\":\"20\",\"width\":\"20\"},\"sa\":{\"resource\":\"File:GPX Document rev3-20x20.png\"}}'/></a></span>"}'/>
Laugharne (Welsh: Talacharn) is a town in Carmarthenshire, Wales, lying on the estuary of the River Tâf. It is known for having been the home of Dylan Thomas from 1949 until his death in 1953, and is thought to have been an inspiration for the fictional town of Llareggub in Under Milk Wood.
- On the A4066 4 miles south of St. Clears
- 222 bus [ dead link ] from St Clears or Pendine .
- The closest rail station is Carmarthen .
- Wales Coast Path .
- 51.769257 -4.464241 1 The Owl & The Pussycat , 3 The Grist , ☏ +44 1994 427742 . Coffee shop and tea rooms ( updated Nov 2016 )
- 51.769566 -4.464158 2 Castle View , Grist Square , ☏ +44 1994 427445 . Fish & chips ( updated Nov 2016 )
- The Old Cow Barn ( Yr Hen Feudai ), Llansadurnen Farmhouse , ☏ +44 1994 427241 , [email protected] . Two old cottages.
- Hurst House on the Marsh , East Marsh , ☏ +44 1994 427417 . A unique Grade II-listed 18-bedroom boutique hotel and spa.
- Saundersfoot
- Has default banner
- Articles with dead external links
- Articles with formerly dead external links
- Has map markers
- Do listing with no coordinates
- Sleep listing with no coordinates
- Has Geo parameter
- Carmarthenshire
- All destination articles
- Usable cities
- Usable articles
- City articles
- Pages using the Kartographer extension
Navigation menu