National Coracle Centre
Museum and workshop in a 17th-century mill beside Cenarth Falls, with coracles from Wales and around the world and displays on poaching.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
The National Coracle Centre in Cenarth, Carmarthenshire, is dedicated to the coracle, a small round boat made of woven wood and a waterproof covering, once used for fishing on Welsh rivers such as the Teifi. The museum opened in 1991, in a 17th-century flour mill beside the salmon leap at Cenarth Falls, which its founder had begun restoring in 1984.
The collection shows coracles from Wales and Britain alongside examples from other parts of the world, including Vietnam, India, Tibet, Iraq and North America. One famous exhibit is a bamboo coracle that Vietnamese refugees used to cross hundreds of miles of the South China Sea to Hong Kong; it was later given to the centre by a museum in Exeter.
The displays explain the history of coracles, how they are built and the tools used to make them, and a workshop shows the ancient craft of coracle making. A separate section looks at poaching, covering the methods and tools of illegal fishing and game taking and the social background to it. Young children can sit in a coracle and watch a film about how coracles are made.
Highlights
- Coracles from Wales and from Vietnam, India, Tibet, Iraq and North America
- Vietnamese bamboo coracle used by refugees to reach Hong Kong
- Workshop showing the craft of coracle making
- Display on the history and methods of poaching
- Setting beside Cenarth Falls and the salmon leap
Permanent exhibition
- Coracles of the world – Coracles from Britain and many other countries, with displays on how they are built and on the traditional craft of poaching.
- Founded
- 1991
Admission & discounts
A small admission fee is charged, which also covers the flour mill; the current amount could not be confirmed.
Accessibility
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Kids & families
- Hands-on stations
Young children can sit in a coracle and watch a film showing how coracles are made.
Getting there & parking
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Amenities & dining
- Museum shop
A gift shop and an antique shop are on site.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes |
|---|---|
| Good to know | Guided tours are available for group bookings. |
