Dinefwr Park National Nature Reserve

Dinefwr Castle showing the ruined battlements

Dinefwr Park National Nature Reserve lies about 1.5 kilometres from the centre of Llandeilo in Carmarthenshire. The highest point is occupied by the ruined castle, Dinefwr Castle.

The only parkland national nature reserve in Wales[1] it has valley views and a chance to see fallow deer and rare white park cattle throughout the year. The latter have been present in the area for over a thousand years, and make appearances in the laws of Hywel Dda.[2]

The estate slopes down to the level fields of the River Tywi floodplain, where small lakes lend interest to the landscape.

Roman forts

In 2003 the outlines of two overlapping Roman forts were discovered during a ground radar survey.[3] Further investigation in 2005 revealed that the earlier fort was the larger site of eight acres which dated to the late 70s AD and could have housed up to 2000 men. The smaller, 3.5 acre fort was a later garrison fort. This also had a vicus near its north east entrance.[4] The forts are dated to the latter part of the 1st Century AD (not long after the military conquest of Wales) and were abandoned early in the 2nd Century AD.[5]

Dinefwr Castle and Newton House are situated in the grounds of the park.

References

  1. ↑ http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/dinefwr/things-to-see-and-do/national-nature-reserve/ Accessed 16 October 2015
  2. ↑ http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/wra-1356318074124/view-page/item400490/
  3. ↑ http://www.dyfedarchaeology.org.uk/digllandeilofort.htm Accessed 16 October 2016
  4. ↑ Rees, Dylan. Carmarthenshire. p.27-8. ISBN 9780708319499
  5. ↑ http://www.dyfedarchaeology.org.uk/digllandeilofort.htm Accessed 16 October 2015

External links

Coordinates: 51°52′48″N 4°00′58″W / 51.880°N 4.016°W / 51.880; -4.016


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