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Guided Underground Walking Tours 2024

A low arched doorway with a metal grate is carved into a craggy stone wall at Dolaucothi Gold Mines, Carmarthenshire.
The Mitchell Mine entrance at Dolaucothi Gold Mines | © National Trust Images/Andrew Butler

Bookings are now open for Dolaucothi Goldmines Guided Underground Tours 2024. Dolaucothi is located in Carmarthenshire and is the only known Roman goldmine in Britain. Explore underground with three different guided tours to choose from. These run on all the days we are open from the 20th March. Please book in advance.

Please see tour details below and select the tour most suitable for you when booking.

Mining Through The Ages

Our Mining Through the Ages tour explores our history from ancient times to the final closure of Dolaucothi as a working gold mine in 1938.

You’ll be kitted up with a hard hat and a lamp ready for the underground section of the tour.

Stout, enclosed footwear is required please, and a keen sense of adventure will be rewarded!

Underground in a dark mine
Visitors underground in a dark mine | © National Trust Images/Chris Lacey

DESCRIPTION
Guided Underground Tour of a Dark Drift Mine

TOUR TIMES

12:00
Arrive 11.45 – 12.00
Tour 12.00 – 13.00

14:30
Arrive 14.15 – 14.30
Tour 14.30 – 15.30

DURATION
1 hour

ROUTE
Mine yard to Mitchell Mine and return. Approx. 0.6 KM.

TERRAIN
Steep steps up (no handrail) and down. Rocky path.

CAPACITY
15

RESTRICTIONS
No dogs, no children under 1 M (usually around 5 years old)

Roman Tour

As the only known Roman goldmine in the UK, Dolaucothi offers unique insights into Roman gold mining. We explore surface archaeology and go underground into a Roman adit and gallery.

Upper Roman Adit is floodlit, so you’ll only need a hard hat (supplied). Stout, enclosed footwear is a must and an enquiring mind an advantage! Dogs are welcome on this tour.

Looking into the entrance of Upper Roman Adit and Gallery
Upper Roman Adit at Dolaucothi, Carmarthenshire, Wales | © Dolaucothi

DESCRIPTION
Guided Underground Tour of a Floodlit Drift Mine
Dogs welcome.

TOUR TIMES

10.30
Arrive 10.15 – 10.30 am
Tour 10.30 am – 11.45 am

13:00
Arrive 12.45 – 13.00
Tour 13.00 – 14.15

DURATION
1 hour 15 mins

ROUTE
Mine yard to Upper Roman Adit and return. Approx. 1 KM.

TERRAIN
Steep steps up and down (hand-railed). Woodland path, upland walking.

CAPACITY
15

RESTRICTIONS
No children under 1 M (usually around 5 years old)

The Level Tour. For people with limited mobility.

With level access to a mine, directly off the mine yard, with no steps to climb, this tour is suitable for people with limited mobility and for some types of wheeled chairs and walking aids.

It is a dark mine experience, requiring a hard hat and a lamp (supplied) and stout, enclosed footwear.

Look out for some intriguing mining features, such as our Knockers and Creakers, and some banks of Fool’s Gold!

The Level Tour
The Level Tour | © National Trust Images/Chris Lacey

DESCRIPTION
Guided Underground Tour of a Dark Mine

TOUR TIME

15.30

Arrive 15.15 – 15.30
Tour 15.30 – 16.00

DURATION
30 minutes

ROUTE
Mine Yard into a level floored mine and return.

TERRAIN
Easy, level access to the mine, no steps

CAPACITY
6

RESTRICTIONS
No dogs. No children under 1 M (usually around 5 years old)

View of entrance to Mitchell Mine Dolaucothi

Book your visit

Please note you need to book tickets for Guided Underground Tours Dolaucothi. You can book on the day up until 1 hour before your chosen tour time (subject to availability). Tickets are made available every Thursday for the next 4 weeks.