Attractions
Mines– though this is a very rural area many tourist attractions bear witness to our mining and industrial past.
All of the above give a fascinating insight into the dangerous working lives of our forefathers. Close by on the Rhinog, on the slopes of Moel Ysgyfarnogod (hill of the hares) you will find extensive manganese mines. Though they are situated in a spectacular setting one can only imagine the hardships our forefathers experienced in this hostile environment to get the mineral out of the ground. On the south side of the Rhinog we have the Dolgellau gold belt, where gold has been mined for centuries, and which also provides the gold for all the royal wedding rings.
National Trust – There are several NT properties within an hours drive. Plas Newydd on Anglesey has a Rex Whistler mural and a battle of Waterloo museum. Nearby Penrhyn Castle, built with the profits from the Penrhyn Slate mine in Bethesda, has the best private art collection in Wales, a dolls house and extensive gardens.
Bodnant Gardens, near Conway, are set in a spectacular setting over the Conway Estuary, and are a gardeners dream. On the way home you could also visit the 16th C farmhouse of Ty Mawr, Wybrnant, the birthplace of Bishop William Morgan, the translator of the Bible into Welsh. A trip around the Llyn peninsula should always include a visit to the 17th C mansion of Plas yn Rhiw.
Centre For Alternative Technology – in this day and age when we are becoming more and more aware of our impact on the environment, a visit to Europe's leading Eco centre in Corris, less than an hour away, will focus our minds on alternate ways to run our lives in a more eco friendly way.
Electric mountain, Cat, King Arthur's Labyrinth, Woollen Mills, Indigo Jones Slateworks, National Slate Museum, Park Padarn,
