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 a Guided Underground Walking Tour, or enjoy a host of surface attractions.
A visit to Dolaucothi can include the underground tours into the gold mine, the mine yard and the surrounding parkland estate, where evidence of Roman gold mining can be seen throughout. A great place for an active family day out, spaces to play, picnic and the thrill of panning for gold.
You’ll need to prebook your underground tour (see Booking your visit to Dolaucothi)
A visit to the mine yard and Field Centre does not need to be prebooked. See opening times page to check to see when Dolaucothi is open.
All tours are led by experienced, knowledgeable and entertaining guides.
Please choose the tour(s) most suitable for you
This tour explores the history of Dolaucothi from ancient times to the final closure of the site 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! Tour takes 1 hour. There are steep steps up to the mine (no hand-rail) and down (hand-railed). Rocky path. For safety reasons, dogs are not permitted in this mine, and children must be over 1 M (usually around 5 years old).
Dolaucothi is set in a tranquil, pastoral landscape, rich in nature and wildlife, but with plenty of remnants of industrial heritage to explore.
Discover 1930's sheds, the impressive head frame and other examples of twentieth century mining machinery around the mine yard, where you can also pan for gold.
Throughout Dolaucothi evidence of Roman activities have been found. Follow the audio tour when you visit or listen beforehand. The estate at Dolaucothi offers multiple ways of exploring read more about it here.
Pay a virtual visit underground with a state of the art Virtual Reality experience in Reception, enjoy the new Treasures of Pumsaint exhibition in the Field Centre … or simply relax, perhaps with a picnic, alongside the golden wheel and water rill and let the world go by ...
At Dolaucothi mine yard activities like the search for mini-figures, the Botanist Trail or Archaeologist trail have been designed with children in mind, the gold panning is loved by all ages.
If you’re thinking of going underground, for safety reasons, those on the tours must be over 1 metre tall (often around 5 years of age) comfortable to wear a hard hat and walk through the mines unaided.
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 2 weeks.
