Dyfed Shire Horse Farm
Dyfed Shire Horse Farm
4.5
Monday
Closed
Tuesday
Closed
Wednesday
10:45 AM - 4:30 PM
Thursday
10:45 AM - 4:30 PM
Friday
Closed
Saturday
Closed
Sunday
10:45 AM - 4:30 PM
About
Wales’ only dedicated Shire Horse Farm visitor attraction based between the Preseli Hills and the Coast of North Pembrokeshire and Newport Bay. We are proud that our family has farmed the land here for 8 generations since 1849. Our family first opened the farm to the public in 1992, to help us to preserve the Dyfed Shire bloodline in memory of our grandfather John Rees Lewis who started the bloodline. The birthplace of Celt aka Major Mercury Drum Horse of the Queen's Household Cavalry.
Meets animal welfare guidelines
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- williamskdnPontypridd, United Kingdom1,093 contributionsThis is a great places to visit and much to see and do. The staff are friendly and helpful. The staff are very knowledgeable and very passionate about their horses and this shows. The days was funs and entertaining and plenty of talks going on. Would highly recommend.Visited August 2024Traveled as a coupleWritten August 30, 2024
- Anita LTelford, United Kingdom58 contributionsAbsolutely amazing place! Spent the afternoon there today and just had the best time! Beautiful horses and donkeys, not to mention 3 shire foals and a donkey foal, rare breed sheep and a llama! We had a ride on the quad bike "train", a ride in a carriage pulled by a gorgeous shire horse, fed a lamb called Panda and listened to a fascinating talk by Mark, who was excellent. So friendly and informative, we learnt no end! In fact, we were so busy we never even made it to the café, which is not like us at all! If you have the chance, please visit. Not only is it a fun and educational place for children, it's brilliant for adults too! If you visit anywhere in Pembrokeshire, visit here. Apart from anything else, you will be helping to carry on the excellent work of breeding and looking after these majestic horses.Visited June 2024Traveled as a coupleWritten June 9, 2024
- Sarah T14 contributionsA small Xmas market which they've introduced this year. Hoping they will be having more crafty markets in one of their barns. Well sturdy looked after shire horses. Everything you wanted to know, they would tell you. Nothing is too much. Very extra friendly. They just want to make your experience a fabulous experience whilst there. Well worth the visit and well worth the Xmas market. Well worth having a ride on the horse drawn carriage. Check out Morgana the well build shire horse.Visited December 2024Traveled with friendsWritten December 29, 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
365 reviews
Excellent
286
Very good
46
Average
13
Poor
9
Terrible
11
Ruth M
London, UK176 contributions
Sep 2023 • Family
I dislike writing reviews like this, but I feel strongly that action needs to be taken at this place.
Despite all the PR about this being the source of UK and international Royal families horses, I find this very difficult to believe. As we approached the outside of the 'farm' it looked rather run down and tatty, however the lady on reception was jolly, enthusiastic and seemed genuinely happy to see us. I was surprised at the entry cost, being ÂŁ25 for 3 adults and a dog, but then seeing the high prices of the items in the gift shop, I thought that maybe this was a very high quality place. The lady gave us a map, showing all the activities and the timetable for the day.
Her enthusiasm was infectious but, for us, very short lived.
We found the whole place to be very run down and in desperate need of repairs and cleaning. None of the items on the list of timed activities during the day took place. There seemed to be a large amount of activities planning (benches set out for delivering talks, skittles/bowling, deflated play area etc etc) but none could be used. We only saw one member of staff actually in the farm throughout the whole day and he was obviously busy with animal work.
And now for the main problem with this place.... the animals. We saw two stabled mares with their foals, and one other mare without a foal. We also saw 2 horses in the field by the car park and two stallions in a hanger.
All three mares looked very depressed, not interested in their surroundings at all. One of the mares with foal had awful crusted over sores around her nostrils which didn't look like they had been treated at all. One of the stallions also had sores around his nose and nostrils with fresh blood in evidence, he was also standing on only three legs, holding his hind leg off the floor. He was very unhappy and loudly neighing and pounding the floor.
There was also a cat - not a wild, farm cat, but a domesticated, very friendly loving cat who was desperate for attention and purring loudly. This poor creature had terrible matts all over it's head and back and flanks, this matted fir went right down to the skin, so would be very painful and only able to be removed by a vet.
There was also a very unfortunate incident with a farm dog, who (we were told later) was only 6 months old and hadn't started his sheepdog training yet. He ran wild throughout the farm, when (we were told) he was supposed to be locked away from visitors. He terrorised our older dog to the point where we intended to leave, but the lady on reception then got the cafe lady to go and catch him and put him away. She was not best pleased at having to do this. as displayed by her grumpy looks in our direction.
If all the animals we encountered at this place were healthy, happy and well cared for, we could have overlooked the rough state of the place, but sadly this was not the case.
We were all very demoralised and saddened as we left. Considering the place was quite busy, I wonder where the considerable entrance money taken on the day was actually being spent.
Despite all the PR about this being the source of UK and international Royal families horses, I find this very difficult to believe. As we approached the outside of the 'farm' it looked rather run down and tatty, however the lady on reception was jolly, enthusiastic and seemed genuinely happy to see us. I was surprised at the entry cost, being ÂŁ25 for 3 adults and a dog, but then seeing the high prices of the items in the gift shop, I thought that maybe this was a very high quality place. The lady gave us a map, showing all the activities and the timetable for the day.
Her enthusiasm was infectious but, for us, very short lived.
We found the whole place to be very run down and in desperate need of repairs and cleaning. None of the items on the list of timed activities during the day took place. There seemed to be a large amount of activities planning (benches set out for delivering talks, skittles/bowling, deflated play area etc etc) but none could be used. We only saw one member of staff actually in the farm throughout the whole day and he was obviously busy with animal work.
And now for the main problem with this place.... the animals. We saw two stabled mares with their foals, and one other mare without a foal. We also saw 2 horses in the field by the car park and two stallions in a hanger.
All three mares looked very depressed, not interested in their surroundings at all. One of the mares with foal had awful crusted over sores around her nostrils which didn't look like they had been treated at all. One of the stallions also had sores around his nose and nostrils with fresh blood in evidence, he was also standing on only three legs, holding his hind leg off the floor. He was very unhappy and loudly neighing and pounding the floor.
There was also a cat - not a wild, farm cat, but a domesticated, very friendly loving cat who was desperate for attention and purring loudly. This poor creature had terrible matts all over it's head and back and flanks, this matted fir went right down to the skin, so would be very painful and only able to be removed by a vet.
There was also a very unfortunate incident with a farm dog, who (we were told later) was only 6 months old and hadn't started his sheepdog training yet. He ran wild throughout the farm, when (we were told) he was supposed to be locked away from visitors. He terrorised our older dog to the point where we intended to leave, but the lady on reception then got the cafe lady to go and catch him and put him away. She was not best pleased at having to do this. as displayed by her grumpy looks in our direction.
If all the animals we encountered at this place were healthy, happy and well cared for, we could have overlooked the rough state of the place, but sadly this was not the case.
We were all very demoralised and saddened as we left. Considering the place was quite busy, I wonder where the considerable entrance money taken on the day was actually being spent.
Written September 16, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Lisa P
7 contributions
Jun 2024 • Family
This is a lovely place with beautiful animals. However, it's very run down and the horse all looks in need of veterinary care. They could also do with a good groom. The donkeys are in a bit of a state. The young lad that was working there was quite rough with the donkeys and lambs.
The museum is very run down.
The museum is very run down.
Written June 19, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Helen M
Stratford-upon-Avon, UK3 contributions
Jun 2022 • Couples
Visited for around an hour and absolutely loved seeing the horses and spending time with them. Please remember this is a working farm, so for anyone showing up expecting Disney land please don't bother wasting their time or yours. This is not aimed as some commercial tourist attraction it's somewhere to go if you want to learn about the horses and see them and appreciate them. Some of the negative reviews seem to think this is purely a location that should cater to their every whim which is the typical entitled view of people these days. For those people just go to Butlins next time for all our sakes.
Written July 1, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Bethan C
2 contributions
Jun 2021 • Family
Just had another amazing weekend at Dyfed Shire horse farm. Its our 3 Rd year there and we all can't wait to go back next year! We go as a large group for our own little festival. The setting is beautiful and perfect for the children. They feel so happy and safe there the adults get to relax making it a proper little break for us all. The farm is lovely and an added bonus to the site, we can visit the animals any time and use the attractions throughout the day for free! There are several play areas that are great for a range of ages and well kept, the kids love it! The staff are incredibly generous, relaxed, kind and supportive. They will go out of their way to help us with our requests, some of which are unique! They work really hard and we're really grateful for it. I can't speak highly enough about the place and I know the other 55 people who were with me feel exactly the same. Thanks again Everyone. See you next year!
Written June 29, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you Beth for your review. We always enjoy welcoming your group to our campsite and hope to see you all again in 2022!
Dyfed Shires Team
Written November 2, 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
SueandLoz
Swansea, UK71 contributions
Sep 2020
We spent a happy few hours at the farm. The shire horses are magnificent and obviously well loved. It was really interested seeing one of them harnessed up in all their finery. Huw took us on the tractor ride and was very informative, and it was fun watching the farm dog Hook chase us in the trailer. The small farm also has llamas, donkeys, Balwen sheep and a couple of cows. During these Covid times care was taken that masks were worn when necessary and that only family groups sat together in the trailer.
Written September 30, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you Sue for your lovely farm review!
We're really pleased that you spent an enjoyable few hours in the company of our 'gentle giants' and friendly farmyard animals! It's great that you enjoyed our talks and of course met Hook, our very friendly and enthusiastic farm dog!
We particularly appreciate your kind comments about our Covid guidelines. It has been a very challenging year but throughout this truncated summer season which only began in late July, our main priority has been the well-being and safety of our visitors and staff members. We are pleased to report that like yourself, our visitors this season have been appreciative of these efforts and have also done their bit to help us mitigate the virus in everything that we do.
We hope to see you again in hopefully more 'normal' times!
Dyfed Shires Team
Written October 1, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Richard C
Gloucester, UK3 contributions
Aug 2021 • Family
Thank you for a fun filled day. You have clearly thought of different ways of to keep all ages interested as the timetable of activities has something for everyone! We enjoyed the cart ride and the land train trip around the animals. Mark was very engaging and told us lots about the history of the farm and taught us some new facts about the animals as well! All of the staff were very helpful and friendly which made our day even more enjoyable. We will definitely be coming here again and would recommend this to other families who are visiting this area. Mark is an incredible host and imparts his enthusiasm and knowledge to all of his guests. Many thanks again, The Cooper family.
Written August 13, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Many thanks for your very kind comments. We're really pleased that you enjoyed your time with us and everything that we offer on our busy farm timetable!
We hope you all visit us again in the near future!
Dyfed Shires Team
Written November 2, 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
11ses
Haverfordwest, UK18 contributions
Jun 2021 • Solo
A very pleasant visit on a rather overcast day.
Talks and events centre around the farm's yard, so nice and accessible if you have mobility problems.
Dogs on leads are welcomed .
Between talks/events visitors are free to visit the paddocks, the museum and the harness room.
There is a short nature trail around the farm, again all on even ground so fine for pushchairs.
Had the day not been overcast (no fault of the owner) the surrounding countryside is absolutely stunning.
Talks and events centre around the farm's yard, so nice and accessible if you have mobility problems.
Dogs on leads are welcomed .
Between talks/events visitors are free to visit the paddocks, the museum and the harness room.
There is a short nature trail around the farm, again all on even ground so fine for pushchairs.
Had the day not been overcast (no fault of the owner) the surrounding countryside is absolutely stunning.
Written June 10, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for your review and kind words.
We persevere through most weather but are pleased that you made the most of what we had to offer despite it not being the best day possible!
We hope to see you again on the farm and bring the sunshine with you when you do!
Dyfed Shires Team
Written November 2, 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Neil B
Narberth, United Kingdom83 contributions
Apr 2022
Being up and close to the horses. Docile and well-loved animals. Well presented and history of their breeding.
Okay, it's basic. It's a working farm. However, the enthusiasm of the presenters, the animals to get close to, the rides and the history on show make it worth it.
We went pre-Covid and the site hasn't changed much but there are new animals and new stories. At ages 10 & 6, the grandkids we took were new to it and found plenty to keep them occupied - even simple excitements like feeding a handful of grass to a giant horse.
Cafe clean and comfortable with simple but good food
Okay, it's basic. It's a working farm. However, the enthusiasm of the presenters, the animals to get close to, the rides and the history on show make it worth it.
We went pre-Covid and the site hasn't changed much but there are new animals and new stories. At ages 10 & 6, the grandkids we took were new to it and found plenty to keep them occupied - even simple excitements like feeding a handful of grass to a giant horse.
Cafe clean and comfortable with simple but good food
Written April 10, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you Neil for your kind comments.
We're really pleased that your enjoyed your re-visit to our farm in these days of Covid.
Yes we are indeed a traditional rural family farm attraction but we appreciate you understanding the importance of our work in breeding our Gentle Giants and in telling our old family story.
We're also pleased to see your comments regarding our popular Caffi Celt.
We hope that you visit us again with the grandkids!
Dyfed Shires Team
Written June 21, 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
ESE2501
London, UK37 contributions
Aug 2020 • Couples
Mark was great - can tell how passionate he is about it and he is so personable. The animals are all lovely - from the ponies to the sheep and llamas, the donkeys and of course the Shire horses. So much to see and so much to learn. There wasn’t a point where I stopped listening as it was so interesting. There’s a lovely nature walk around the fields also. So easy to spend a whole day here with so much to do and Mark really did make it a personal experience and get everyone involved.
Written August 25, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for your lovely review!
It's great to read of your clear appreciation and interest in the stories that we have to tell as a family farming the same land since 1849. It's also great that you enjoyed the company of our many horses and farmyard animals who love the attention!
We hope you visit again when next in west Wales.
Dyfed Shires Team
Written September 9, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Cliff R
4 contributions
Oct 2022
It has been many years since our last visit and time has taken its toll as the area now looks very tired and could do with a facelift. With its links to the Royal Horse Artillery and Royalty, one might expect a greater impact. What saves it, of course, is the quality of the horses and their care together with a very friendly staff who are willing to engage and inform at anytime. The cafe served a fabulous beef cawl and again the staff were delightful. Overall, a coat of paint and general brush up, and the centre would be a real treat to visit for anyone.
Written November 3, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
A Tripadvisor member
Eglwyswrw, United Kingdom
They are indeed at a small entry fee of ÂŁ2 per dog.
Written September 8, 2017
Are wellies recommend if it has been raining before going?
Written July 26, 2017
Hello there!
Yes we would recommend wellies just in case if it has been wet.
You can bring spare footwear with you and pop out to the car park to change them if necessary!
Written July 26, 2017
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