I bought many items in the Spectrum over the last 5 years…read more I liked it when a friendly lady Sue worked here. These days I seldom go. I think I bought what I wanted. I still like many of the paintings, the black crow (pottery) - and the big rings. My partner bought a ring here in December last year. It was a birthday present for his mother. When she put the ring on, the stone came off. She wanted to change the ring - or to have it repaired by the people in the Spectrum. The unfriendly woman working in the shop on that day said she should put super glue on the ring herself. Not very good service really. I am disappointed now - even though I still like many of the items there.

I imagine this is a fantastic place to visit on school trips in the summer months…read more Having an interest in ecology and all things green we decided to take a trip in November. The water train doesnt work in the winter months and there are no guided tours but you can use a handheld device which will talk you through the exhibits. It is about £6.40 for an adult and a 'suggested donation' of another £1 to loan the tour guide. Many of the exhibits did not work, a large part of the centre was roped off and another part is under construction. However, despite the downsides, it was an interesting project that looked at all aspects of ecology and preservation. The games for the children were great - all with an aim to get them thinking about their fuel consumption, travel issues, waste management etc. Even the restaurant was vegetarian and explained how it is environmentally beneficial to live a vegetarian lifestyle. The centre is run by volunteers who live and work on site and you can tell it is a way of life that they really enjoy. The shop was delightful with a range of gadgets for the eco minded, plenty of interesting books and many fairtrade gifts on offer. I enjoyed seeing how they educate our youngsters in these important matters but some parts of the centre was a little disappointing, especially having to pay full rates when much of the centre was off limits but at least the entry fee etc went to a good cause.

If you are really into ecology and you are passing through Machynlleth then CAT is the place to…read morevisit. Nestled on a hillside, CAT is a top eco-centre, exploring alternative ways to live in a greener way. It is set out as an educational centre with lots of examples of the various eco-technologies they encourage. The centre is very well laid out and the ethics good, however i would suggest trying to visit on a sunny day we took an large group of kids who got bored early on because many of the working exhibits weren't going becuase they relied on solar power. The water lift was great though and everyone enjoyed using it to get up to the centre.