Mid Wales was home to the last remaining Native Red Kites. Now, due to the hard work of the Conservation bodies here in Wales, Red Kites are once again in ascendance and now we have the greatest density and diversity of birds of prey in southern Britain.
At Gigrin Farm the Red Kites are fed daily at 3pm (summer time) and 2pm ( in winter), every day of the year. The number of Kites visiting the station can vary from a few dozen to more than four hundred, depending on the weather and the time of year. Gigrin Farm is approximately 30 minutes drive from the cottage.
The dams and reservoirs of the Elan Estate are situated within an area of outstanding scenic beauty. Explore this stunning area along the well marked trails suitable for walkers and mountain bikes. For those interested in the history of the dams there is an interesting exhibition in the visitors centre at the entrance to the valley. The dams were originally built to provide water for the growing town of Birmingham in the 19th century.
These unique gold mines are set amid wooded hillsides overlooking the beautiful Cothi Valley. The Romans who exploited the site almost 2,000 years ago left behind a complex of pits, channels, adits and tanks. Mining resumed in the 19th century and continued through the 20th century, reaching a peak in 1938. Guided tours take visitors through the Roman and the more recent underground workings. The main mine yard contains a collection of 1930s mining machinery, an exhibition about the history of gold and gold mining, video and interpretation. Gold panning gives visitors the opportunity to experience the frustrations of the search for gold. Other attractions include waymarked walks and picnic areas. The Gold mines are aprox 30 mins drive from the cottage.
Land of power and influence for more than 1,000 years, Dinefwr Park and Castle is an iconic place in the history of Wales. Dinefwr Castle, which is where the Lord Rhys, Prince of Deheubarth held court, overlooks the superb 18th-century designed landscape and Newton House. The ground floor and basement of Newton House are furnished c.1912 and there is a new exhibition on the first floor which tells visitors about Dinefwr's past. Visitors will be inspired to explore the park, home to more than 100 fallow deer and a herd of rare White Park Cattle. Dinefwr Park and Castle is 30 mins drive from the cottage.
One of the most spectacularly sited Welsh castles is Carreg Cennen. Spell-binding views are waiting to be experienced from the sharp hilltop upon which the castle sits. The story of Carreg Cennen Castle is a long one, going back at least to the 13th century. Although the Welsh Princes of Deheubarth built the first castle at Carreg Cennen, what remains today dates to King Edward I's momentous period of castle-building in Wales. Carreg Cennen Castle is 35 mins from the Cottage.
