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Carmarthenshire CoastLlansteffan Castle and the Tywi Estuary
Castle on a green headland above the mouth of the Tywi, with a beach below and views across to Laugharne.
- Distance
- 3.1 mi / 5 km
- Time
- 1 hr 45
- Ascent
- 140 m
- Difficulty
- Moderate
- Shape
- Circular
Where it is
The circle shows the general area, not the exact start. Use the directions link below to get to the car park itself. Contours and paths shown are OpenTopoMap, drawn from OpenStreetMap data.
The route
Climb from the village to the castle, then follow paths round the headland and down to the beach, returning along the shore or the lane.
Worth knowing
- The castle is free, unstaffed and open all year, which is unusual and welcome.
- St Anthony’s Well below the castle is a wishing well with a long local tradition.
- The estuary sands are extensive at low tide but the channels fill fast. Stay near the shore.
What you’ll see
The castle keep and gatehouse, the estuary and its sandbanks, and Laugharne across the water.
Background
An Iron Age fort occupied the headland before the Normans built here in the twelfth century. The castle changed hands repeatedly between Welsh and English.