Walking through it, you feel like it could almost be yours. Roaming free among 800 acres of vast parkland, there is a rarely a soul in sight. And with only the sounds of your footsteps and rustling of leaves, together with the lush sound of bird song and a flowing river, a special national nature reserve in a Carmarthenshire community offers the perfect place for peace and quiet, surrounded by a backdrop steeped in history and beauty this winter.
Hidden away in plain sight off the A476 to Llandeilo lies the rolling lands of Dinefwr. After negotiating a long lane into the premises and paying the £5 set fee to park your car, you'll find yourself surrounded by one of the most beautiful locations the county has to offer. At its heart is Newton House, a seventeenth century manor house which was the family home for over three hundred years to the descendants of The Lord Rhys, the powerful Prince of the Welsh Kingdom of the Deheubarth.
Built in 1660 by Edward Rice, the current house takes its name from the ‘New Town’ built for English settlers in the medieval period. The Jacobean mansion, from which the current house evolved, was built on a site that has been occupied for two thousand years. It has been cared for by the National Trust since 1990. On days it is open to the public, you can explore public exhibitions which reflect on the varied aspects of life at Dinefwr over the centuries, including a glimpse into the history of the estate and its people.
