Gelli Aur country park

Gelli Aur is a country park in Carmarthenshire covering about 60 acres with woodland trails, a Victorian arboretum, and natural ponds throughout the grounds. A 19th-century mansion sits at the center, surrounded by planted trees and open spaces that invite exploration.

The Vaughan family built the first mansion in 1565, which was later destroyed by fire and not rebuilt until 1754. The Cawdor family commissioned a new Renaissance-style building in 1827 that defined the estate's character.

The grounds served as an American military base during World War II and were later transformed into an educational setting. The buildings and landscape reflect this shift, showing how a single place can serve different purposes for communities across generations.

The park is open on weekends and bank holidays with a walking route of about 1.7 miles through woodlands and open areas. Wear sturdy shoes since the paths can become muddy and slippery after rain.

The grounds contain a 20-acre deer park home to fallow deer that roam freely among the woodland clearings and open spaces. Peacocks also wander throughout the entire property, adding an unexpected tropical touch to the Welsh landscape.