Dinefwr Castle

A 12th-century Welsh castle, historic house and 18th-century landscape park, home to more than 100 fallow deer make Dinefwr Castle a truly amazing place.

The castle overlooks the River Tywi near the town of Llandeilo, and there is a very defensible steep drop to the river of several hundred feet. It was first constructed on this site by Rhodri the Great, but no remains from this period have been found.

Dinefwr later became the chief seat of Rhodri's grandson Hywel Dda, first ruler of Deheubarth and later king of most of Wales. Dinefwr became the stronghold of the princes of Deheubarth, and in the 12th Century was held by Lord Rhys, the most powerful of the Welsh princes at that time.

Around 1600 Newton House, was built nearby and the castle was abandoned.

Dinefwr Castle can be reached by walking through the beautiful grounds of Newton house. The house was recently extensively restored and many rooms are dressed in 1912 style. There are some exhibition rooms, tea rooms and a shop.

As you leave the house and prepare to walk towards the castle, you will have to stop to see the fallow deer and the small herd of White Park cattle. A number of scenic walks, including a wooded boardwalk, are well worth trying. The castle is in the grounds of the National Trust's Dinefwr Park, although the castle is in the care of Cadw. You can visit the castle for free, but you have to pay the National Trust for admission to the park.
More information at: nationaltrust.org.uk

• Admission charge (Please check web site above)
• Gift shop
• Parking
• Tea room (not NT)

(Castles Map »)