This country park with haunted castle and wild deer is the perfect family day out

Margam Park is a go-to if you are after a fun-filled day of history, activities and wonder, finds Portia Jones

- Portia Jones

THE long summer holidays are here, and if you've already done the local park, hit the pool, and survived soft play, you're probably one "I'm bored" away from losing it. So, where do you go next?

Good news, we've rediscovered a smashing country park that’s bursting with things to do. Say hello to Margam Park in Port Talbot, where you can dodge the screens and get the children properly stuck into outdoor fun.

In this free-to-enter park there’s the gothic castle that looks like it's straight out of a fairytale, free-roaming deer, a lake with watersports, and loads of trails to explore. Chuck in a packed lineup of family events and activities this summer, and you've got yourself the perfect family day that will definitely tire out the kids.

You can roam 1,000 acres of glorious parklands, natural beauty, history, wildlife, a wide range of fun activities, and heritage sites where you can learn more about Welsh history.

While some activities might incur a small fee, there's loads to explore if you don't want to fork out. Pack a picnic and you're laughing.

This historic 850-acre estate is set on the southern slopes of Mynydd Margam.

The estate's history can be traced back to prehistoric times, with Bronze and Iron Age relics and evidence of Roman and extensive Celtic occupation. In fact, the Romans might have introduced Margam’s very own deer herd, which still resides in the park today.

According to the Margam website, the famous Margam Deer Herd roams through approximately 500 acres of parkland, including Red and rare Pere David deer. You can look out for them while on the park’s many walking and bike trails.

If you visit during the rutting season (typically between September and November), you can watch the male deer, or stags, compete for dominance and the right to mate with females.