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.
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Featuring a Gothic facade, many of the original 17th-century features can still be seen within the house, including the magnificent grand staircase and ornate ceilings. The building truly is a sight to behold, but amazingly, it is just one of a number of reasons why you'll want to go and visit. Arguably the best thing you can do is just to its explore its vast landscape. The Ragwen Point walk leads to a stunning clear clifftop with views across Carmarthen Bay, and along the way you can see historic ancient trees on a circular route. There are 300 oak trees, some that are over 400 years old.
Now is the perfect time to visit if you like spotting nature, as in the colder months, otters and woodpeckers can be spotted, along with male fallow deer. The estate boasts a 100-acre medieval deer park. Roamed by a herd of over 100 fallow deer, you’ll witness the eerie, echoed bellows of the fallow bucks throughout the estate. The birds display the same behaviour with its White Park Cattle, picking off the loose hair as the prehistoric-looking animal sheds its winter coat.
Perhaps the most awe-inspiring part of your visit will come when you're stood in the centre of Dinefwr Castle. Reaching it from the car park is a bit of a mission, so be prepared to trudge uphill on an incline and through rough terrain in the woods, as it is perched in a commanding hilltop position above the Tywi Valley. But the effort is worth it for the reward, not only for the opportunity to soak in history, but to take in the stunning views which the elevated spot offers.
In the 12th century, the fortress was in the possession of The Lord Rhys, ruler of the ancient south Wales kingdom of Deheubarth. His reign saw a rare period of peace and stability that led to a flowering of Welsh culture, music and poetry. After Rhys’s death, conflicts over succession led to turbulent years as the Welsh princes fought amongst themselves and against the English. Dinefwr eventually fell into English control in 1287 and remained there for centuries, despite Owain Glyndŵr’s attempt to wrest it back during his uprising of 1403.
As much as it is a picturesque and peaceful day out, Dinefwr is also a history lesson for those who are interested enough to read the resources afforded to them. As you walk around the grounds, there are plenty of interpretation boards and maps explaining all about its rich history.
If you are yet to pay a visit, you couldn't pick a better time to do so than now. There are plenty of Christmas events lined up, including Santa's Grotto, where children can meet Santa and get an early Christmas gift, from December 3 to 19. There will be an evening of community carols on Wednesday, December 14, and an evening featuring the Welsh tradition of Mari Llwyd on Wednesday, December 21. You can find out all about those events by clicking here.
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