Margam Country Park

Margam Country Park is set in 1000 acres of glorious parklands, offering beauty, history, wildlife and a wide range of facilities. It has surprises around every corner including:-

• A Tudor-Gothic style Victorian Mansion House, Margam Castle with its vast stairhall and octagonal tower.

• Ornamental gardens including historic gardens around the Castle, Monastic Gardens, Orangery Terrace and a unique Fuschia Collection, rhododendron bushes etc.

• Narrow guage railway runs from the car park to the Castle. (Separate charges for this)

• Wood Vibrations Trail - a musical trail featuring giant wood instruments which runs from the car park through the woods to the discovery centre.

• Farm Trail.

• An 18th Century Orangery gardens, the longest in Britain and it is fronted by 3 ornate fountains featuring entwined dolphins and scallop shells.

• Iron Age Hill Fort at the back of the castle, originally occupied by an Iron Age tribe who fought the Romans.

• A 12th Century Chapter House - the remains of a 12 sided chapter house originally part of a Cistercian monastery founded on the site in 1147. It relied on sheep rearing for its income and was dissolved in 1536 by Henry VIII.

• Other animal attractions include a good population of peacock, birds of prey in aviaries and rare breed Glamorgan Cattle are raised on the estate.

• Pets Corner.

• Go Ape High Wire Forest Adventure. (Separate charges for this)

• Adventure Playground.

• Crazy Golf (Separate charges for this)

• 6 Waymarked Walks, one of which includes Hill fort Viewpoint which overlooks a boating lake.

• Fishing and a pond with it's mandarin ducks

• Visitor Centre in the castle courtyard has a gift shop, information centre and cafe

• and the best deer herd in Wales

The Margam Deer Herd

The deer herd today roams through around 500 acres of parkland. It dates from Norman times although several references are made to deer in this area during the time of Roman occupation. The herd was originally exclusively fallow deer but over the last 15 years firstly Red deer and then Pere David deer have been introduced. The Pere David are an endangered species and in the park they are part of a breeding programme under way in conjunction with Whipsnade Safari Park. The herd in 2011 consisted of 300 fallow, 64 red and 34 Pere David.

Margam County Park is also home to the Margarm Country Show held in August of each year and runs many other events during the year and on these occasions entry fees may be charged.

Location: Margam Country Park, nr Port Talbot, Glamorgan Grid Reference: SS804862 Ceremonial County:  Glamorgan Map Link:  StreetMap   Aerial photo: Google Aerial  Getting there: M4 J38 onto A48 and follow the brown tourist signs. Access: Website: Margam Park Other Useful Websites: Wiki Email: margampark@npt.gov.uk Address: Margam Country Park, Margam, Port Talbot  Postcode: SA13 2TJ Telephone: 01639 881635 Opening Times: All Year. Summer Season: Daily 11th Apr-4th Sept 10am-5pm Winter Season: 5th Sept-31st Oct Daily 10am-5pm; 1st Nov-Apr Wed-Sun 10am-4.30pm and Mon & Tue 1pm-4.30pm Charges:  Free Entry - car park charge of £3.50 for car; £6 minibus. Separate charges when special events taking place. Separate charges for the railway and crazy golf. Nearby Locations: Other Location Pages: Deer Topic Index     Where to Photograph Deer in the UK  Other Relevant Pages: Notes: During the winter months some facilities at the park are closed. Park Map

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