If you think of mining in Wales you normally think of huge slag heaps and grey countryside. Think…read moreagain when you think of gold mining. Dolaucothi is a small site in terms of mining but exceptionally pretty, overlooking the Cothi Valley. Workings in the mines date from Roman times but mining has taken place here as recently as the 1930s. Guided tours will take you through the workings of the mines and show the conditions that were endured. If you have an energectic group you may well find that your guide is prepared to take you on an extended tour which will take in parts of the mines above ground too. For children there is a gold panning set up. The site is suitable for children who are old enough to walk themselves through the tunnels and stairs - it's not suitable for very young children. All must wear hard hats (provided). Although this is true mining and the tunnels quite small in places it is not a very deep mine and shouldn't prove too problematic. A campsite is available on the site with 35 pitches. The shop sells Welsh gold (more expensive than foreign gold).

I get many visitors from the continent and from America…read more I love telling them about the Welsh culture. I have learnt Welsh myself - also through living here, attending the Eisteddfodau every year. My professional background is museum studies, museum work. I show visitors the castles of Wales, the varied landscape, introduce them to music and literature from Wales, etc. I used to take them to the National Library of Wales. In Cardiff I always go to St. Fagans with my friends. The exhibitions in the National Library I have found a bit boring and dull recently. The opening times are not visitor-friendly. I do not find it's worth going there anymore really. The exhibition facilities are brilliant though. It has more to do with the exhibitions, the concepts, etc. At the moment there is a costume exhibition (yawn - haven't we seen something like this many times before?). One gallery is now closed for refurbishment - in summer. I would be interested in the Gregynog exhibition. I know about the Gregynog Press - but then I ask myself how interesting is this topic for others? Kyffin Williams - great painter, yes - but so often something about him!? I would love to see an exhibition which is vibrant, has to do with Wales in the 21st century - something different, something new! CULTURE IS ALL ABOUT CHANGES. A challenge perhaps!? (... whenever you tell the people who are in charge, they do not take you seriously )

We went to the Big Pit in Blaenafon a couple of decades ago but wanted to go back now that our son…read moreis old enough to visit with us. It's still excellent. Our guide, Steve (a former miner), taught us so much about the mine and mining, and he shared his sharp wit many times along the way. We loved the tour. This is a national treasure. If you haven't seen it, go! We arrived about 10 a.m. and didn't have to wait, but it can get busy with tourists and school groups. We also had lunch in the Big Pit Canteen. Despite being shorthanded that day, the staff produced a wonderful lamb cawl and roll for £5.65 each that was nourishing and delicious. With beverages, the three of us ate for £20.85 (approximately $26).

This was a FABULOUS experience. You suit up, get prepped and go down deep in a real mine once…read morefully operational but now run and maintained by the National Museum of Wales. Our guide was fabulous. He led us through dark and tiny tunnels. He told us about the history of the mine and the people who worked in the mines. (Some of the history and conditions the people and animals were put through were quite sad.) We got to experience how dark the tunnels were and see how you mine as well as where the horses were kept. I was a little scared. Two of my friends couldn't handle the tight space and close quarters. However, if you're not claustrophobic and up for a different kind of adventure; I whole heartedly recommend it. Guide was fun and did everything to make sure we were safe. For instance, you must leave all electrical devises on the surface for fear of any current sparking a fire because even though this is run by a museum now, it's still an active mine and I wouldn't want it any other way.

A museum to 'the man who won the war' - that is the first world war - and friend and mentor to…read moreWinston Churchill. The chap who kicked off the welfare state, his 1909 budget was life-changing for many. Rather than being buried in Westminster Abbey he chose to be buried next to his beloved river Dwyfor, nearby this museum, which includes the house he was brought up in. An eye-opener.

The museum itself is quite small and old fashioned, but you can learn some interesting things about…read moreLloyd George. Much more interesting is the house he lived in, which has been restored to a period look.

Very cool tour. Mark Waite the tour leader and owner is a great guide and makes the entire…read moreexperience well worth the price of admission. We saw many things just as they were left when the mine owners shut it down for the final time in 1970 - many remnants dating back to the early 1900's and earlier. We decided on the 4 hour tour and glad we did. The 2 hr tour would have gone by too quickly - but by the 4th hour your ready for it to end. Maybe a 3hr tour would be just right. But regardless, it was a great experience - and really enjoyed learning about slate mining and seeing so many cool authentic tools, blasting caps, nitro glycerin tubes, 100 yr old cigarette packs, newspapers, etc. Remember to dress warm, even though it might be 70º outside, it's like 48º inside the mine.

Dan yr Ogof!!! Yay! I first came here when I was really little, so they really did seem huge and…read moreimpressive then- they still are pretty to me now, and are certainly impressive cave system wise for this little country. It's definitely well aimed at children, with a (not entirely relevant, I'll admit) dinosaur park which has been updated. It could benefit from a bit of funding, but that's the case with most places like this, and they definitely do seem to be putting their profits back in again.

The showcaves at Dan-yr-Ogof are the most spectacular caves I have ever visited. There is the…read moreDan-yr-Ogof cave, the Bronze cave and my favourite the Cathedral cave. The stalagtites are thousands of years old and the lighting really adds to the ambience of the cave. There is a Dinosaur park for the children and you can also camp there too. A great holiday base in the Brecon Beacons National Park.

The museum re-opened last summer and this winter the…read morebuilding is being refurbished and upgraded the displays. Reopening Easter 2013. Well worth a visit in conjunction with a trip on the nearby Ffestiniog Railway to see how the slates journeyed down from the mountains, loaded onto the ships and taken world-wide

There are one or two interesting exhbits in this small, but cheap museum. Mostly it is quite dark,…read moreand very old fashioned.