Robert Lloyd - a Sir Gar Blog of random news . . . and some Clecs!

There are thrills and spills galore in Carmarthenshire as part of the Great Weekend of Adventure taking place across Wales this weekend. Adrenaline junkies should head to Pembrey Country Park on Saturday, April 2 for Round 1 of the British Mountain Bike XC Series which will see top class riders battling it out on a fast and challenging course. A more cultural adventure awaits visitors to Laugharne Weekend from Friday, April 1 to Sunday, April 3; or for fun for all the family Cenarth Adventure Centre has put together a packed programme of activities for Saturday and Sunday, April 2 and 3. The county is also welcoming two international travel vloggers who will be joining Llandysul Paddlers on their very own adventure playground swooping down the river Teifi rapids on a kayak. Wales has made 2016 the ‘Year of Adventure’ and the council has secured Welsh Government funding to help showcase what Carmarthenshire has to offer - from whirlwind weekend getaways to longer-stay roam-arounds. Wh...

The line-up for this year’s Laugharne Weekend is (yet again) an interesting and diverse one with a variety of artists set to appear, including Barry Cryer, Graeme Garden, Cerys Matthews, the Pogues’ James Fearnley, Simon Armitage, Howard Marks, John Cooper Clarke and Jah Wobble and Keith Levene from the iconic late 70s band, Public Image Ltd.  There is one performance on the bill, however, that has a special relevance to Laugharne. The work of one of its most famous residents, Dylan Thomas, will be brought into the 21st century with a performance of Buggerall – which has been described as an ‘update’ of Under Milk Wood. The play, written by local author Jon Tregenna (pictured above), is being performed by Corsham-based theatre group Three’s Company on the opening night of the weekend. Buggerall poses the question: what if the poet was alive and well and writing about life in a West Wales seaside town today? (For those not in the know, Buggerall is Llareggub – the settin...

Visitors to the Laugharne Weekend annual festival are being helped to find a place to stay through Carmarthen’s Castle House. The weekend of literature, music and the arts, is held each spring in the home town of Wales’ famous bard Dylan Thomas. It takes place from April 13 to 15, and a packed line-up includes a talk from Deke Leonard, poetry by Simon Armitage and music from Cerys Matthews. Accommodation for the weekend is always in demand, a listing has now been compiled highlighting Visit Wales graded properties in Laugharne, Pendine, St Clears, Whitland and the surrounding area. Carmarthenshire County Council’s Castle House Tourist Information Centre has also set up an accommodation helpline on 01267 231557 to help visitors find the right place to stay. The historic building was once the former police station built within the grounds of Carmarthen Castle. Visitors can view the authentic interior of an 1880 police station, complete with cell and model policeman, along with finding ou...