CWTCH UP in Carmarthenshire

Bask in the cosy warmth of a Welsh ‘cwtch’ or hug with a break in the green heart of Wales

Welsh for a cuddle or hug, ‘cwtch’ sums up feel-good Welsh hospitality and a sense of contentment. You’ll find all this, plus epic scenery, historic ruins and characterful towns in this part of southwest Wales.

Literary Laugharne 

Start with a visit to Laugharne, a magical coastal town on the River Taf estuary. Serenely beautiful, there’s a medieval castle looking out over the salt marsh towards the Gower peninsula. But its real claim to fame is as the home of Welsh poet Dylan Thomas, and fans flock from all over the world to pay homage (past visitors have included King Charles, Mick Jagger and ex-US president Jimmy Carter). Thomas’ home, the Boathouse, is now a museum with a snug 1950s parlour and a tea room serving sugar-dusted Welsh cakes and bara-brith. A short walk away is the poet’s tiny writing shed, teetering on a clifftop. Peer through the window to see his desk strewn with pens and papers, and his jacket hanging on the back of a chair. Finish with a pint of local ale in Brown’s, Dylan’s favoured hostelry and now a boutique hotel and bar.

Remarkable ruins