Rachael Thomas

Last week I went to Dinefwr Park with historical author Judith Arnopp. Even though this magnificent park is near to where I live I'd never been. So on a beautifully sunny day, armed with a picnic and our cameras we set off. Even the entrance to the park is grand, a long road through the park where White Park cattle graze. We also caught a glimpse of one of the deer, roaming amid the ferns in the Medieval Deer Park, but he was too quick for us to get a photo of him!The castle dates back to the 12th century and offered spectacular views. We climbed narrow spiral steps to reach the top of the towers and spent several hours exploring all the small passageways and corners, wondering what it must have once been like.In the afternoon we went to Newton House, originally built in the 1660's, but now displaying the Victorian stone facade after extensive remodelling. Inside the house was a WWII exhibition, with rooms set out as they would have been when the house was used as a hospital. One of my favourite rooms was the Drawing room, complete with 1940's music.It was a great day out and a fantastic place to draw inspiration from. I shall definitely be going back for another visit.