The Acquisition of Dinas Oleu

April 13, 2020

The National Trust is marking the 125th anniversary of its first land acquisition at Dinas Oleu in North Wales by offering those in isolation a chance to enjoy stunning spring images of the landscape

Dinas Oleu, land cared for by National Trust below boundary wall

Dinas Oleu is a five-acre parcel of land on the hill above Barmouth. It overlooks Cardigan Bay and the peninsula of Llŷn. Dinas Oleu was donated to the National Trust on March 29, 1895 by philanthropist Fanny Talbot, a friend of Octavia Hill and Canon Hardwicke Rawnsley, two of the Trust’s founders. The Trust currently looks after over 250,000 hectares of countryside, 780 miles of coastline and hundreds of special places in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

View from Centenary Viewpoint on gorse covered Dinas Oleu hillside

Despite having closed its houses, shops, cafes, parks, gardens and car parks, to help in the nation’s fight against the coronavirus, the conservation charity is offering people the chance to still enjoy the landscape with a new set of stunning images, taken at the start of the week, which has burst into life in the last couple of weeks with the arrival of spring.

Over the coming weeks, the Trust’s digital platforms – social media feeds, website, podcasts and video – will ensure the places of nature, beauty and history to remain open for business virtually while everything is temporarily closed. Blue skies, sandy shores and coastal scenery at Dinas Oleu can all be admired.

Hilary McGrady, Director General of the National Trust says: “The Trust was founded 125 years ago for the benefit of the nation – with our founders particularly wanting to ensure everyone had access to beauty and nature. In light of current circumstances, the same is true today and we want to honour our mission by doing everything that we can to bring nature, beauty and history to your homes in the coming weeks, starting with Dinas Oleu and where it all began.

“We hope this will help people connect with nature wherever they are and to find moments of joy in the world around them. We will be providing rich content and staying in touch with our members and followers throughout this time.”

Here are some pictures to enjoy the beauty of Dinas Oleu remotely: