Margam Park - 4/1/2014

5 miles walk
Weather - Overcast & cold.

11,000+ steps

Our first visit to Margam of 2014. We didn't parked in the main car park of Margam Park, but by the lake near the Stone Museum. Within minutes of parking we were instantly greeted by some very cheeky geese, unfortunately we didn't have any duck food.

Cheeky geese demanding food!

After leaving the car we walked up the steps to the old chapel ruins (Capel Mair ar y Bryn "The Chapel of St Marys on the hill"). It's a lovely old monastery ruin with fantastic views overlooking the park and the castle. We saw deer here but no ghosts of monks (apparently U.S Paranormal investigators Ghost Hunters International were told to go away by monks!)

A fantastic view of Margam Castle and park

The castle through the chapel's window

From here we made our way back down the mountain and eventually arriving at an enormous stile! We then crossed a few muddy streams, following the path around until we came across a huge dead tree trunk with a huge amount of fungus!

The hug stile...never seen one like this before

Impressive fungi on a log

...more fungi...

...even more fungi

Not far from here is Margam Castle, we walked through the courtyard and ventured into the castle.  They are currently filming the TV programme Da Vinci Demons here and it was so interesting to see some of the sets including a painting we remember from season 1. In the day you cant go upstairs in the castle, but last year we did an amazing ghost walk with Jim Cowan called 'The Margam Ghost Walk' - It was so informative and interesting and we actually sat upstairs in the castle in the dark! It was quite an experience especially when everyone in our group heard a 'growl' - Being upstairs on the ghost walk we were able to see more of the Da Vinci set, its so impressive and actually fits in quite well with the castle.

The inside of Margam Castle is just magnificent

Part of the Da Vinci Demons set

Lovely gothic architecture

headed to the castle grounds and discovered a herd of fallow deer...we got some fantastic pics. There were lots of activity in the lake moorhens, swans, coots...such a shame we forgot bird seed.

We then walked to the farm, met some lovely donkeys. Unfortunately at this point the heavens opened, so a quick sprint around to the deer park passing the mini nature reserve. Here we headed up to where the red deer were hiding (camouflaged against bracken and rusty coloured heather).

A fallow deer poses for us

The cute donkey at the farm

The final part of the walk we headed up to the pulpit. This is the highest point of Margam and the views are outstanding. You can see Somerset and The Gower Peninsula. After a tea and Mars bar we made our way back down the mountain and back to the car.

The pulpit...

....outstanding views

A very enjoyable walk and so looking forward to seeing it in the spring when the bluebells and rhododendrons are in bloom.

Birds Sighted:

• Wren

• Blue Tit

• Nuthatch

• Mallard

• Moorhen

• Coot

• Swan

• Goose

• Raven