DINEFWR DEER PARK

There is nowhere else in Wales quite like Dinefwr. In 1775, Lancelot ‘Capability’ Brown wrote that “nature has been truly bountiful” when making suggestions for the park to then owners George and Cecil Rice. Its beauty was also recognised by Catherine the Great of Russia, who, when commissioning a china dinner-set, chose Dinefwr Deer Park to sit alongside other majestic scenes from across Europe. From the moment you begin the approach drive you are amid history. Immediately, on the right you’ll see the site of an extensive Roman fort, perhaps the largest in Wales, close by a medieval village. A little further on, a view of Dinewfr Castle situated on the highest point of the ridge. Forwards stands Newton House, one of the great treasures of the National Trust in Wales, beyond which is the Deer Park, a National Nature Reserve. One achieves the best overview by climbing the steep hill to reach Dinefwr Castle at the heart of Castle Woods Nature Reserve. To the north, admire Bog Wood, which has the largest colony of ancient trees in Wales, 300 of them being at least four centuries old. Green Woodpecker

Look south and watch the River Tywi wind its sinuous course across the flood plain towards the sea. Yes, there are deer in the Deer Park, Fallow Deer which can number up to 100 or so. To add to your delight are the white cattle, the Dinefwr Herd the oldest domesticated white cattle in Great Britain, their ancestry probably dating back to pre-roman times. Not to be overlooked the rich variety of woodland and water birds to enchant the visitor throughout the year.