Family days out at Dolaucothi

Get kitted up like a miner and venture into the tunnels, adits and galleries of the world beneath your feet, or enjoy activities above ground on the mine yard.

Winter walks at Dolaucothi

Although the mineyard and tours are closed for winter – don’t forget that you can still visit the wider estate. Park in the woodland car park, opposite the mine car park and start your walks from there. See the illustrated map in the car park. 

Re-opening in Spring

The bookable guided tours and mineyard at Dolaucothi will re-open on the 19 March 2025. Bookings for tours will be online around three weeks in advance. We’re looking forward to seeing you all back next year. 

Underground Tours

Please pre-book.  Entry and tours are free for NT Members

A firm family favourite is the Mining Through The Ages Tour, an underground dark mine tour of Victorian workings where children can experience, very briefly, what it was like being a child working in the gold mines.

Full details of all the guided tours, and links to the booking system, are available here. 

Families are very welcome on all the Tours but please note that, for safety reasons, there is a minimum height of 1 M (normally around 5 years of age) for children going underground. 

Mine Yard Activities

Discover the mining machinery of a bygone age in the 1930’s Mine Yard; a large, open space, skirted by woodland, ideal for outdoor games and play.  Bring a picnic, spot birds and other wildlife, try your luck at the gold panning experience, or just relax by the Water Rill and Golden Wheel. 

The Gold Panning Experience

Take a pan and sift the gravel – will you catch the glint of gold beneath the water?  Anything you find, you keep, but remember all that glitters is not gold!

Field Centre

For indoor fun, especially on rainy days, the Field Centre has Dressing Up Boxes, Colouring Materials and Indoor Games as well as mining maps and memorabilia, books, archives and a photo album all about Dolaucothi.  Housed here are replicas here of the beautiful Roman Gold Jewellery found on the Dolaucothi estate in 1799, and information about Sir John and Lady Gardner Wilkinson, a famous Victorian archaeologist and botanist with close connections to the Johnes family of Dolaucothi.

Nature Trail

Follow in the footsteps of botanist, Lady Gardner Wilkinson, on the Botanist Trail.  Pick up your Botanist Kit and Spotter Sheet at reception and head off on your very own expedition. 

Walking the Dolaucothi Estate

Apart from the Mine yard, the surrounding Dolaucothi Estate has 24 KM of waymarked walks for all ages.  Take in stunning views from the walks or enjoy a stroll alongside the River Cothi on the Parkland Trail. 

The walks take you through wildflower meadows, mature woodlands, open farmland and some of the finest scenery in Carmarthenshire; an ideal habitat for wildlife with a wonderful variety of birds.

Don’t forget to tag us @dolaucothiNT/YG in any photos you post.  We love seeing your adventures down the mines or around the Estate.

Planning your family visit

To help you plan your day out in advance, here’s some key information:

Pre-booking is required for all Underground Tours.  Min height for children is 1 M (normally around 5 years of age)

You can find all the opening times here for the different parts of the property. Please check before you travel as opening days change depending on the season.