WELSH RARE BITS

 

HE'S THE SECOND MOST FAMOUS WELSH EXPORT AFTER CHARLOTTE CHURCH. NOW, THANKS TO A STAR-STUDDED MOVIE ABOUT HIS LOVE LIFE, DYLAN THOMAS' HOMELAND IS SET TO BECOME SUMMER’S HOTTEST HOLIDAY DESTINATION

By Rob Cowen

There’s nothing like a blockbuster to put a place on the map. The Edge Of Love – the story of poet and writer Dylan Thomas’ life, starring Keira Knightley and Sienna Miller – is about to do just that for the Welsh village of Laugharne.

What to see

To understand why Thomas loved the area so much, take a stroll along the cliff path called ‘Dylan’s Walk’ to the poet’s infamous ‘word-splattered’ writing shed.

Empty bottles and cigarette butts still litter the writing table, marking where he drank and drew inspiration for his masterpiece Under Milk Wood, looking out over the Taf estuary.

A bit further on, you can stop off at the boathouse Thomas and his wife Caitlin called home.

It’s now a great little museum celebrating the man and his poetic legacy.

Don’t miss picturesque New Quay, either.

Thomas spent a year living in a cottage here in 1945, and much of the movie was filmed on location in the fishing town.

Have fish and chips on the beach before joining one of the dolphin and porpoise tours across Cardigan Bay.

Finish the day with a pint in the Black Lion (Blacklionnewquay.co.uk), another recognisable spot in the film and Thomas’ favourite drinking den.

Where to eat

Book early to get a table at uber-cool restaurant and hotel Hurst House on the Marsh, near Laugharne.

Co-owned by actor Neil Morrissey, it has a reputation for delicious, locally-sourced food such as salt marsh lamb and cockles.

While Thomas’ local, Brown’s Hotel, is being renovated, toast the poet at The New Three Mariners (Newthreemariners.co.uk), also owned by the Men Behaving Badly actor.

It has a fantastic menu, leather sofas and a wood-burning stove, so settle in for the day.

Where to stay

In nearby New Quay, make like Keira and Sienna and book into the Ty Mawr Mansion, Ceredigion.

This 300-year-old country house hotel run by husband-and-wife team Catherine and Martin McAlpine was the much-loved home to The Edge Of Love cast during shooting, as the enthusiastic entries in the visitors’ book reveal.

“Thank you so much ‘Mum & Dad’ – see you soon!” Sienna gushes.

Expect open fires, elegant period rooms and enormous baths that might recently have had Sienna or Keira in them.

The food is local, plentiful and utterly delicious, but don’t overdo it – Martin’s belt-busting breakfast is huge!

 

Photography: Alamy, Corbis, Digitalrailroad.net, Lancton. All prices correct at time of going to press.