GO UNDERGROUND/OVERGROUND FOR AN ACTION PACKED DAY OUT - Right on the doorstep and set in the heart of the Gower Peninsula just West of Swansea THE GOWER HERITAGE CENTRE was established in 1990 as countryside crafts centre situated in historical and beautiful surroundings. Today the centre is recognised as a vibrant crafts and rural life museum that welcomes visitors from all around the world. Natural heritage can be seen in all its glory at the Dan-yr-Ogof National Showcaves Centre for Wales situated in the Swansea Valley. There are three caves, Dan yr Ogof Cave, the Bone Cave and the magnificent Cathedral Cave, which are all full of weird and wonderful sights. Many of the amazing limestone formations have names, such as the Alabaster Pillar, standing two metres high and the Flitch of Bacon, a calcite curtain stained by iron, which looks good enough to eat. THE RHONDDA HERITAGE PARK is one of the top heritage and cultural visitor attractions in South Wales that provides both a fun and interesting day out.
Housed in the former Lewis Merthyr Colliery in Trehafod, the museum provides a flavour of what life at the coalface was like. For a mystical underground adventure - KING ARTHUR’S LABYRINTH at Corris, provides an underground boat ride, that takes visitors deep into the spectacular caverns under the Braichgoch Mountain at Corris near Machynlleth. The whole family will be treated to an exciting underground adventure, that unfolds as you sail along a subterranean river, through the great waterfall, deep inside the spectacular Labyrinth and into a world of myths, legends and storytelling. Explore a labyrinth of tunnels and spectacular caverns, as tales of King Arthur and other ancient Welsh legends unfold in this dramatic underground setting, with stunning sound and light effects. The journey’s end will take you back along the beautiful subterranean river into the grounds of Corris Craft Centre and the Bards’ Quest. Take on the challenge of the Bards’ Quest and help to save these legends from extinction by searching for them in the maze of time. GOLD- DIGGERS can look for real Welsh gold this summer at DOLAUCOTHI GOLD MINES. Dolaucothi, run by the National Trust, is set amid beautiful wooded hillside overlooking the Cothi Valley in Carmarthenshire, and is the only known Roman gold mine in Britain. There probably isn’t that much gold left at the ancient Roman mine at Dolaucothi, but what there is certainly still exerts its magic. The entrance to the Dolaucothi Gold Mines is through an exhibition centre that gives all the necessary information about the history of the mine and the things that you can see there. Guided tours are available into two of the underground workings and there is a self guided trail ‘The Miners’ Trail’ around the major features of interest that takes about 45 minutes to walk round. Then you can try your hand at panning for ‘gold’. ABERDULAIS Falls combines all the interest of a museum while also getting you outside to enjoy some fabulous scenery. Set in a small, wooded gorge, just a few miles from Neath, Aberdulais Falls is a place of natural beauty, but it also has a long and interesting industrial history. It boasts the largest waterwheel in Europe to generate electricity. The power generated by the flowing water is still being harnessed today, by way of a huge waterwheel, making Aberdulais Falls self-sufficient in environmentally friendly electricity. The Gwili Railway is a living reminder of a Great Western Railway branch line set in the breathtaking Carmarthenshire hills. The trip down memory lane starts at Bronwydd Arms Station, and the steam train follows the route, originally taken by the Carmarthen to Aberystwyth line to a delightful halt at Danycoed Manned by volunteers only who are happy to chat with you and show you how everything works. You can even visit the Signalman in his control room who explains how the signals work. |
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