Things to do in Laugharne: a local's day out

Yes, Laugharne is well worth a day. It's a small township on the Taf estuary with a castle, a real literary history, estuary walks, and enough good food and coffee to keep you here from morning to evening. Here's how a local would spend the day.

Start at Dylan Thomas's Boathouse

This is the reason a lot of people come, and rightly so. The poet lived here for the last years of his life and wrote some of his best-known work looking out over the estuary. It's kept as a museum now — the family rooms, photographs, and a recording of Dylan reading his own work. The Writing Shed just up the path is worth the few steps. Give it an hour.

Walk up to the Castle

Laugharne Castle sits right above the estuary, and the view from it is the one you'll remember. There's free parking close by, which makes the castle a natural place to leave the car and do the rest on foot.

Take the estuary walk

The Taf estuary is the heart of the place — wide mirrors of water at low tide, wading birds, the saltmarsh beyond. The township and birthday walks loop you out along the water and back through the town, and you don't need to be a serious walker to enjoy them. Bring the dog; plenty do.

Pay your respects at St Martin's Church

Dylan and his wife Caitlin are buried in the churchyard, marked by a simple white cross. It's a short walk from the centre and part of most people's day here.

Then eat and drink well

All that air earns you lunch. That's where we come in — The Globe, on Duncan Street, is a wine bar, a kitchen and a secret garden in one. The kitchen does a short, seasonal menu at lunch and dinner, there's a proper wine list, and the Cocktail Hour runs from 3 to 5 if you fancy a drink between the two. Dogs are welcome, and if the weather holds, the garden out the back is the spot. It's a small room, so it's worth booking ahead. And if you're in early, The Globe Bakery next door has bread baked that morning and coffee from the off.

Practical bits

Free parking by the castle. Laugharne is about 25 minutes from Carmarthen and under an hour from Tenby, so it slots neatly into a wider trip along the coast. We're open Tuesday to Saturday (closed Sunday and Monday), so plan the day midweek to Saturday.