Rainy day activities in Wales

The house at Dyffryn has been transformed with a twist; everything has been designed to be touched and played with. Pretend to be the Lord or Lady of the manor as you challenge your family and friends to a game of billiards. Have a go at sewing in the morning room, play the piano in the Blue drawing room, enjoy a good book in The Red library or have a go at the typewriters in conference centre.

Open the door and discover vast luxurious rooms, Gothic stairways and fine art. Learn about the castle on the house trail or get hands on with living history experiences. Hear tales of star-crossed lovers, sugar and slate fortunes or roll up your sleeves and find out what life was really like for a servant in the Victorian Kitchens. Become a train spotter at the railway museum and see if you can spot one of the rarest locomotives from the Padarn Railway.

Lose yourself for an hour or so as you take a tour around Porth y Swnt. Grab a scrapbook and make your way around the centre in search of hidden animals with an UV torch. Get your hands wet in The Swnt or let the journey inspire you to create your own poetry in the Sea of Words. And no visit is complete without seeing the 8ft high and 8ft wide Bardsey Island Lighthouse optic.

Get ready to immerse yourself in history with hands on interactive experiences. Take turns playing games, create your own stories with shadow puppets, dress up as one of the Morgans or put yourself to the test and see if you’ve got what it takes to become a scullery maid. Be dazzled by the glistening Gilt Room and retrace the dancing footsteps of the Morgan family or sit back and enjoy a book at the second-hand bookshop.

Step back in time and discover what life was like in Tudor times. Sit at the high table and imagine you're the merchant's guests. Take a seat on the windowsill or try on Tudor clothes in the bedchamber. Pick up a scroll or try Tudor Family Fortunes to discover more about Tudor life and superstitions. And did you know the Tudors had yo-yos?

Set amongst spectacular landscape Dolaucothi has plenty to do under and above ground. If the typical Welsh weather prevails go on an underground adventure through time and discover what life was like for Roman and Victorian miners. But don’t let a little drizzle stop you from taking on one of Dolaucothi’s network of beautiful trails.

With an 800 acre playground it would be a shame to let a little rain stop you. Grab your wellies and your raincoat and head outside in search of Dinefwr’s legendary white cattle and roaming deer. If the outdoors isn’t your thing then get hands on at Newton House and experience life as servant in the basement brushing room or to play the piano like the Lord and Lady in the Dining Room.

Keep the children on their toes as they follow the cuddly bug trail (a conservators’ nightmare) and the teddy trail in the house. Learn about the reality of a servant’s life, from emptying chamber pots to 14 hour days. Brave the rain and head to the Wolf's Den, a natural play area that spans across two acres of wild play space with den building, rope swings and balancing beams all resourced from the 1,200-acre estate.

Whatever the weather you won’t be disappointed at Aberdulais, rain only makes the waterfall look and sound even more spectacular. Bring your waterproofs and pick up a tin detective pack and go on an expedition, take on the sensory trail, and see what secrets you'll find. Go back in time and dress up in Victorian costumes like the men, women and children that worked at Aberdulais.

Wander into the deep wooded valleys of Dolmelynllyn Estate and take shelter under Britain’s native deciduous trees. Walk alongside turbulent River Gamlan and make your way to Rhaeadr Ddu (black waterfall). Watch as two waterfalls cascade over 60ft into a pool of dark waters.