Dylan Thomas Trail facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Dylan Thomas Trail |
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Dylan Thomas Trail number 9. New Quay
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| Location | Ceredigion 52°16′54″N 4°10′38″W / 52.2818°N 4.1772°W |
| Use | Walking |
The Dylan Thomas Trail (which is Llwybr Dylan Thomas in Welsh) is a special walking path. It takes you through places in Ceredigion, west Wales, that were important to the famous poet Dylan Thomas.
Dylan's daughter, Aeronwy Thomas, officially opened the trail in July 2003. It was also a big part of the celebrations in 2014 for 100 years since Dylan was born.
You can find blue plaques and information boards along the trail. These are in towns like Lampeter, Aberaeron, and New Quay. There's also a detailed guide book called The Dylan Thomas Trail. It helps visitors walk the route and learn about the poet's time in the area.
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Contents
Exploring the Trail: Llanon to Llanina
The Dylan Thomas Trail starts on the coast at the Central Hotel in Llanon. From there, it winds through the countryside to Plas Gelli in Tal-sarn. This was a large house where Dylan and his wife, Caitlin, lived during part of World War II.
Following the Aeron River
The path then turns west and follows the beautiful River Aeron valley. You will pass Tyglyn Aeron, which is now a hotel. This was once the summer home of a publisher named Geoffrey Faber. Another famous poet, T. S. Eliot, used to spend his holidays there in the 1930s.
Journey to Aberaeron
The trail continues past the National Trust’s Llanerchaeron estate. Then, it follows an old railway line to Aberaeron. Dylan had many friends in Aberaeron. These included Thomas Herbert, who was a vet.
Cliffs and Coastal Views
From Aberaeron, the trail follows the cliffs towards New Quay. It goes close to Plas Llanina. Dylan once wrote about dancing on the sands there. Under the waves near Plas Llanina, there is a drowned cemetery. This place is said to have inspired parts of his famous play, Under Milk Wood. Plas Llanina was once home to Lord Howard de Walden. He encouraged Dylan to write in the apple house in his garden.
Discovering Majoda and New Quay
Next on the trail is Majoda. This was a small bungalow where Dylan and his family lived from September 1944 to July 1945. They stayed there during a very cold winter.
Dylan's Productive Time
Despite the weather, this was a very busy time for Dylan's writing. It was a period when he wrote many great poems. These poems made up almost half of his book, Deaths and Entrances.
Reaching New Quay
The trail then follows the beach and finally arrives in New Quay. This is the end point of the main trail.
Extra Walks in New Quay
There are also extra day walks you can take. One is Eli Jenkins' Pub Walk, which follows the River Dewi to the coast at Cwmtydu. Another is a town trail around New Quay itself. This walk takes you past the house where Dylan's aunt and cousins lived. You can also see Dylan’s favorite pub, the Black Lion.
Learning More About Dylan
If you want to learn more, there is a companion book for the trail. It tells you more about Dylan's time in west Wales. You can also find other published articles. There is also a book with photos of New Quay's history.
Continuing the Adventure
The coastal part of the Dylan Thomas Trail is also part of bigger paths. These include the Wales Coast Path and the Ceredigion Coast Path. It is mentioned in many walking guides for these paths.
Beyond New Quay
Fans of Dylan Thomas can keep walking the coast path from New Quay to Llangrannog. Dylan enjoyed meeting up with a World War I flying hero, Ira Jones, in the Pentre Arms there. The coast path then goes south. It passes Yr Hendre farm, near St. Dogmaels. Dylan camped there with a school friend in 1930 when he was sixteen. The trail guide tells you more about this holiday.
Trail's Popularity
The Dylan Thomas Trail is listed on many walking and cycling websites. It has also appeared in tourism guides. It even tops the Wales Online list of "100 things to do in Ceredigion before you die." The trail has been featured in national news. It has also been studied by experts.
