Luminate Wales at Margam Park | North Wales Photographer
*ewch i waelod y dudalen i ddarllen yn Gymraeg*
Luminate Wales at Margam Park Review
(updated for 2025!)
The first time we received an invitation to attend the private launch of Luminate Wales at Margam Park, it was back in 2019, in a pre-covid world. We had no idea what was coming in the next few months, which made the memories we had of this event even more special. Fast forward to 2025 and we were thrilled to be invited back again. If you’ve read any of my other blogs, you’ll know that as a family we love Margam Park all year round! It’s just one of those places where children can be children. So I was really excited when I found out that it wasn’t only me who was invited, but that I could bring my family too! I wasn’t really sure what to expect, but told E (our 4 year old daughter) that we were going to see some beautiful lights and have an adventure walk. She was SO excited, and the event didn’t disappoint.
As soon as we parked, we could see the gorgeous colours of the lights and hear the gentle music playing and knew that this was going to be a magical night. The thing about E is that she loves to run, explore and be independent. The trail was perfect for her - there was only one path to follow, which meant that she could follow the bulbs and know exactly which way she needed to lead her mummy and daddy! There were lots of friendly staff dotted around the trail which always sets my mind at ease for keeping the children safe. E kept stopping and exclaiming “Wow!” as she went round - always a good sign. Not only were there beautifully lit trees and ornaments , but there were also tasks to complete along the way, light tunnels to run through, a colourful bridge to cross, marshmallows to toast, and a fairy garden to explore.
The trail took us around and hour and a half to complete, but it was an easy walk (buggy friendly too, and with a short part of the trail offering an alternative route for wheelchairs) and so enjoyable that it didn’t feel like we’d been out for that long. The weather this year was kinder to us than in previous years, as back in 2019 it started raining after around an hour, but I can honestly say that even that didn’t affect our enjoyment. I’m really not one for rain, my hair protests by turning into frizz. But E was in her snowsuit, we had hoods and we were all wearing wellies, so I think that as long as you come prepared, the rain shouldn’t really affect the experience. Plus, if we waited for dry weather to do fun things, we’d barely get anything done now, would we?!
If you’re looking for a magical experience for your family, head over to the Luminate Wales website to book tickets - it runs every evening (except Christmas Day) from now until the 31st of December. Some nights are dog friendly, which is something to consider where you’re looking to bring your own pup or avoid them completely! I have to say that we only saw a few dogs while we were there, and the experience in general felt very calm and unhurried, without feeling at all like it was too busy. There’s mulled wine and marshmallows available for an additional cost, as well as food options like pizza and burgers. Wrap up warm, and take loads of photos along the way - this is something you’ll want to look back on with your children when they’re grown up! Scroll down for some of the photos I took last night, and don’t forget to leave me a comment, I can’t wait to hear what you thought of the light trail :)
Clare x
About Me
Hi, I’m Clare, South Wales family photographer who loves working outdoors with natural light (or in this case barely any light at all!). Get in touch if you’d like to book a family photoshoot in Cardiff or the surrounding areas, I can’t wait to meet you!
Mi ges i ebost hynod ecseiting yn ôl yn 2019 - gwahoddiad i fynd i ‘launch night’ y digwyddiad Luminate Wales ym Mharc Margam. Wel o’n i di mopio! Mi o’n i di gweld y lluniau o bethau tebyg yn digwydd yn Lloegr, ond dyma’r tro cyntaf i’r ffasiwn beth ddod atyn ni yng Nghymru. Mi o’n i’n fwy cyffrous fyth i glwad fod E fach (sy’n bedair oed) wedi ei gwahodd hefyd. Do’n i ddim cweit yn siwr be i ddisgwyl gan fod y digwyddiad yn un newydd sbon, ond mi gafon ni ein siomi ar yr ochr ora - mi oedd hi’n noson lyfli. Wedyn, neithiwr, gafon ni’r fraint o gael ein gwahodd yn ôl, ac unwaith eto, roedd hi’n noson andros o braf.
Erbyn i ni barcio, mi oedd hi’n amlwg fod noson hudolus o’n blaenau. Mi oedd y goleuadau a’r miwsig tawel yn ein denu ni’n syth bin, ac mi oedd E’n gyffrous iawn i ddechrau ar ein taith o amgylch y parc. Dilynodd hi’r llwybr yr holl ffordd rownd, a gan mai un llwybr yn unig sydd, mi oedd hi’n ddigon saff ac yn teimlo fel mai hi oedd y bos, yn arwain a thywys mami a dadi! Roedd digon o staff o amgylch y llwybr hefyd, sy’n galluogi rieni i deimlo’n hyderus bod eu plant nhw’n saff! Mi gafodd y gair “Wow!” ei ddeud LOT wrth i ni ymlwybro - arwydd da ei bod hi’n joio! Fedrai ddim dychmygu pa mor hudolus oedd y noson yma iddi - coed wedi’u goleuo, tasgau i’w cwblhau, twneli goleuadau i redeg drwddynt, pont lliwgar i’w chroesi, marshmalos i’w tostio, a gardd tylwyth teg i’w archwilio.
Yn ôl yn 2019, dechreuodd hi fwrw tua awr ar ôl i ni ddechra’n taith, ond i fod yn hollol onest, mi oedden ni wedi gwisgo’n addas (snowsuit i’r fechan a welis i bawb!), felly doedd hyna ddim yn mynd i’n stopio ni rhag joio! Doedd fy ngwallt ddim yn hapus iawn efo’r glaw (frizz!), ond roedd pawb yn ddigon hapus i gario mlaen. Roedd y tywydd yn brafiach eleni - oer ond sych. Tywydd gaeafol perffaith. Mi gymrodd y daith cyfan tua awr a hanner i ni - ar lwybrau eitha fflat, llydan ac yn addas i fygis. Mae un darn byr lle mae caderiau olwyn yn mynd ar lwybr gwahanol ond mae arwyddion clîr i ddangos y ffordd.
Os ydach chi’n edrach am rwbath gwahanol i wneud efo’ch teulu chi cyn Dolig, ewch draw i wefan Luminate Wales er mwyn bwcio tocynnau - mae’r digwyddiad ymlaen bob nos o heno ma tan y 31ain o Ragfyr (heblaw am ddiwrnod Nadolig). Mae na opsiwn i brynu mulled wine a marshmalos, ynghŷd a trycs bwyd pitsas a byrgyrs. Gwisgwch yn gynnes, a tynnwch llwyth o luniau ar hyd y daith! Mae hon yn noson hudolus ac mi fyddach chi isho atgoffa’ch plant chi o’r hud a’r lledrith mewn blynyddoedd i ddod. Sgroliwch fyny i weld fy lluniau i o’r noson neithiwr, a gadewch i fi wbod yn y ‘comments’ isod be da chi’n feddwl o Luminate yn Mharc Margam.
Clare x
Amdana i
Haia! Clare dwi, ffotograffydd sy’n gweithio ar draws De Cymru i greu portreuadau modern o fabis, plantos a theuluoedd. Cysylltwch heddiw er mwyn bwcio shwt i’ch teulu chi, fedrai’m aros i gwrdd â chi :)