LIFETIME of WALKS by DEREK HARWOOD

Laugharne is the little seashore town of Dylan Thomas, the Welsh poet. There was a good car park by the town square, ruined castle and seashore. There was a new substantial stone path along the shoreline and under the castle. I continued up the edge of the River Taf, past a small wooden monument to Dylan Thomas, to steps. The tide was well in, up to and over the path. A pied wagtail darted around the edge of the water looking for food. There was a steep ascent up steps to 'Dylan's Walkway' and 'Dylan's Shed'. I continued walking past Dylan's 'boathouse', with good views across the River Taf and wooded headland of Craig Ddu. It was a steady walk through a wood and field to Delacorse Farm, then a long, steep pull up a sunken stoney lane to a tarmac road. There was a view ahead of Laugharne village in the valley bottom but St Martin's Church wasn't seen from the lane. I was surprised to see a kissing gate at the end of the wall at point '7'. I crossed the bridge over the lane to a new churchyard where Dylan Thomas' grave was marked by a simple white wooden cross eight rows from the bottom. When the walk was first described it was the seventh row. The sun was very warm in the graveyard and the whole area was swarming with thousands of flies. There were fewer flies in the green lane at the top of the graveyard, but plenty of reminders left by horses that the green road is a bridleway. I took a slight detour at the end to High Street by the town hall, whilst looking for a post office so Sylvia could post a card to Christine in Canada.

Location Map: - www.streetmap.co.uk
Start & Finish: near Laugharne Castle

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