Discover more at Dolaucothi
Find out when Dolaucothi is open, how to get here, the things to see and do and more.
Dolaucothi
WalesPull on your boots and discover the UK’s only known Roman Gold Mine.
Pumsaint, Llanwrda, Carmarthenshire, SA19 8US
Important notice
Dolaucothi Goldmine will reopen on 01 April 2026. Tickets are on sale from 26/03/26. The Woodland Car Park and Estate Walks are accessible all year weather permitting.
M T W T F S S Open
Closed
Opening times for 21 March 2026
Asset Opening time Gold Mine Closed Estate Open all day Free site entry for National Trust Members. Site entry with or without guided tour available for non-members. All guided tours must be pre-booked, please note that the fee is applicable to both members and non-members for the guided tours. Main open days are Wednesdays, Thursdays and Sundays (please see website for any additional opening days during school holidays). The woodland car park is open daily alongside the estate walks.
Site entry & guided tour
Ticket type With Gift Aid Without Gift Aid Adult (18+) £17.50 Child (5-17) under 5s free £8.75 Family (2 Adults and up to 3 children) £43.75 Family (1 adult and up to 3 children) £26.25 Site entry only
Ticket type With Gift Aid Without Gift Aid Adult (18+) £7.50 Child (5-17) under 5s free £3.75 Family (2 Adults and up to 3 children) £18.75 Family (1 adult and up to 3 children) £11.25 Guided tours (NT Members)
Ticket type With Gift Aid Without Gift Aid Adult (18+) £10.00 Child (5-17) under 5s free £5.00 Family (2 Adults and up to 3 children) £25.00 Family (1 adult and up to 3 children) £15.00 Become a member and discover more than 500 places
- Car park
Goldmines car park is open only when the mines are open. Woodland car park (opp. main gates) is open 24/7 all year round.
- Dogs allowed
Dogs on leads are welcome at Dolaucothi.
- Guided tour
Please pre-book for Underground Guided Tours of the only known Roman Goldmine in Britain.
- Toilet
Toilets onsite at mine yard including disabled facilities (no facilities on tour route).
Drop-off point, disabled toilets, Braille and audio guides. Numerous steep steps (tours). Gravelled, generally flat mine yard. Most sheds accessible. Please find further information on accessibility for each mine under ‘Book your underground tour' at Dolaucothi.
- Accessible route and/or map
Many of our machinery sheds are accessible for users of wheelchairs and walking aids.
- Accessible toilet
Level access to disabled toilet with handrails, emergency cord and baby changing facilities.
- Braille (guide or menu)
- Drop-off point
- Level access/terrain
Although our guided tours involve steep steps and upland walking, our Mine Yard is flat. There is a slight upward slope from the car park to the Mine Yard.
- Photograph album
- Ramped access/slopes
There is ramped access to some of our covered walk ways and buildings. Please note that there is an upward slope from car park to Mine Yard.
- Steps/uneven terrain
Guided Tours take approx. 1 hr 15 mins and the 1km route involves steep external steps up and down from the mine(s), and some walking on upland footpaths.
- By road
- From Llandovery / Llandeilo (A40). Turn off A40 onto A482 at LLANWRDA. Continue on A482 for c. 7 miles. Look out for right turn off A482, signposted Dolaucothi Goldmines, just before PUMSAINT village (our sign is situated above large sign for Five Saints Riding Centre). Follow single track road for a couple of minutes and arrive at Dolaucothi on your right (signposted Dolaucothi Goldmines). From Lampeter Head South East on A482 In c. 8 miles pass through village of PUMSAINT Immediately after village take one of the two left turns signposted Dolaucothi Goldmines Follow single track road for a couple of minutes and arrive at Dolaucothi on your right (signposted Dolaucothi Goldmines)Parking: Free. Car park for Goldmines is situated inside main entrance. Car park only open when mines are open and is locked at 5 pm Woodland car park for estate walks is open 24/7 all year and is situated opposite main entrance.
- By bus
- from Lampeter (search Bws Bach Y Wlad for route)
- Cycling
Planning your visit
Article
Booking your visit to Dolaucothi
As part of your visit to Dolaucothi, you can book to go on an underground tour of the Victorian Mine and Level Mine. Expert guides will unveil the secrets of Roman mining and take you underground into the mine itself.
Article
Visit the Gold Mine at Dolaucothi
The UK's only known Roman Gold Mine is located in the beautiful Cothi Valley in Carmarthenshire. The ancient gold mines and twentieth century mine yard recall the heavy industry of the past in a landscape now reclaimed by nature. Venture into the world beneath your feet on an underground tour and enjoy a host of surface attractions.
Article
Visiting the Dolaucothi Estate
With over 2,500 acres of estate, woodland, farms and parkland to explore, there’s so much more to Dolaucothi in Carmarthenshire than the Roman mines.
Article
Visiting Dolaucothi with your dog
Dolaucothi is a two pawprint rated place. Your visit at Dolaucothi is a dog-friendly one, with miles of footpaths to explore across the estate, there are some fantastic locations for you and your dog to discover.
PDF
Highlights
Roman Mine Trail
Collect your fob and hard hat at Visitor Reception and enjoy free access to a floodlit Roman adit and gallery. Check out the information boards along the way-marked route. The accompanying QR codes link to an audio trail, telling the unique history of the UK’s only known Roman gold mine.
Victorian Mine Tour
Take a guided underground walking tour of a dark, hilltop mine. This atmospheric and exciting tour explores the secrets of Victorian mining at Dolaucothi, including how the mines were lit, and techniques for blasting the rock. Tours are led by experienced, friendly and knowledgeable guides. Book online to reserve your place.
Level Mine Tour
Guided underground tour into a level, easy to access Victorian adit. Discover an underground environment, full of interesting mining features, on this dark mine tour. Suitable for those of more limited mobility, the tours are led by experienced, friendly and knowledgeable guides. Book online to reserve your place.
Gold Panning Area
The Gold Panning area is situated on the mine yard at the base of a mountain stream. Pans and instructions can be found nearby, along with bags to take home whatever you find. The panning area features troughs of varying heights for easy access, and the water flows into a water rill and a Golden Sun Disc.
Mine Yard
1930s mine yard with a range of metal sheds containing mining machinery, equipment and tools, with explanatory information boards.
Field Centre
A comfortable space for relaxing, the Field Centre also contains a small museum, with displays of finds from the Roman fort in Pumsaint, which was excavated in the 1980s and ‘90’s. There’s also a video telling the story of a particularly special find. Other areas of the room contain displays of items from the Victorian era at Dolaucothi, and the 1930s.
Countryside
2,500 acre let estate of SSSI status with 25km of footpaths ranging from riverside, meadow and woodland to upland landscapes.
Things to see and do
Activity
Guided Underground Walking Tours
Discover two thousand years of gold mining history on a Guided Underground Tour.
Article
Visit the Gold Mine at Dolaucothi
The UK's only known Roman Gold Mine is located in the beautiful Cothi Valley in Carmarthenshire. The ancient gold mines and twentieth century mine yard recall the heavy industry of the past in a landscape now reclaimed by nature. Venture into the world beneath your feet on an underground tour and enjoy a host of surface attractions.
Article
Visiting the Dolaucothi Estate
With over 2,500 acres of estate, woodland, farms and parkland to explore, there’s so much more to Dolaucothi in Carmarthenshire than the Roman mines.
Article
Family days out at Dolaucothi
From underground adventures deep in the gold mines to a gold panning experience on the mine yard, there’s plenty of fun for the whole family at Dolaucothi.
Top trails
Trail
Parkland Trail
Explore the parkland around Dolaucothi on this gentle stroll, taking in the grounds of the mansion and riverside paths, with spring bluebells and autumn fungi.
Trail
Miners' Way Trail
Experience history on this moderate trail at Dolaucothi, where you'll follow in the footsteps of gold miners through the ages.
Trail
Woodland Trail
Walk through beautiful woodland, following paths once taken by horses dragging timber. Uncover the history of Dolaucothi Gold Mines, Pumsaint village and the former mansion as you go.
Trail
Estate Trail
Walk in Ancient Roman footsteps along the River Cothi and climb to the Dolaucothi Estate's highest point, for spectacular views over Pumsaint and the wider valley.
Places to stay
Penparc
Nestled on the edge of the Dinefwr Park Estate with a gorgeous garden overlooking the valley, Penparc is a fabulous base for exploring the Welsh countryside
Cariad Cottage
Sitting within Dinefwr Park estate, Cariad Cottage is cosy and packed with charm and character.
Upcoming events
Sorry, there are no upcoming events at this place
About Dolaucothi
Discover 2,000 years of history at the only known Roman gold mine in the UK. The Victorian Mine Tour, Levels Mine Tour and the Roman Mine Trail offer insight into different periods of mining history, while in the 1930s mine yard you can see 20th century mining machinery and even pan for gold. Away from the mines, the wider estate offers more than 15 miles of footpaths, winding through the Cothi Valley from mature woodland to upland pasture with far-reaching views over the surrounding countryside.
History
Article
History of Dolaucothi
Gold mining at Dolaucothi started at least 2,000 years ago and ended just before the Second World War. Find out more about the UK’s only known Roman gold mine.
Dolaucothi Podcast
Going Underground Inside a Roman Gold Mine
