ALTHOUGH famous for its associations with poet Dylan Thomas, the town of Laugharne, in West Wales, has much more to offer.

It was granted a township under a charter by King Edward I in the 13th century, and the area is rich in history.

This year will see the three-yearly Common Walk, which involves members of the community pounding the 23-mile town boundary on foot. There are Stone Age caves to explore and Roman settlements to see, and cannon balls belonging to Oliver Cromwell are also on display.

The township itself is nestled around the castle, so the views on a clear day can be breathtaking.

Taf Estuary is the perfect spot for a picnic, or Portreeve beach, which has hosted many efforts of breaking the land speed record, is also very pleasant.

For the architecture enthusiast historic Laugharne Castle is top of the list of attractions.

There are many listed buildings in the elegant Georgian conservation area which are also well worth a look.

The magic of Laugharne has attracted many famous artists and writers over the years, such as Mary Shelley, the author of Frankenstein. Dylan Thomas and his wife, Caitlin, first moved to the area in 1938, and stayed there for four years.

Their first house was a small fisherman's cottage called Eros, in Gosport Street, and they later moved to a larger home, Sea View, in Victoria Street. Their final house in Laugharne was the famous boathouse, where the couple are thought to have been at their happiest.

Thomas wrote many poems while living in the town, including To a Shell, about the town's famous cockle- pickers.

In his own words, Thomas paid a visit to Laugharne and "got off the bus and forgot to get on again".

It is easy to see why, as Laugharne is such a peaceful place that coming back to reality can be an unwelcome distraction. Haili-Leanne McHugh