A Welsh Coal Mining Experience — Attraction in Trehafod

The tour was very interesting with an ex-miner as a guide. Our small group had plenty of time to chat as a result and all questions were answered without hesitation. The site was a real mine and they have now added lots of interactive set pieces, some of which are very impressive. I shan't spoil the surprise and each experience has lots of effects and plenty of photo opportunities. The whole place is wheelchair accessible, tho the last 'interactive set piece' in the coal cart may require sitting on the sideline. Well appointed shop with local produce and assorted gifts. One minor complaint, the guide tho very happy and cheerful at one point was asked if he would return to mining if the industry was revived tomorrow. Given the risks involved and his highlighting of the dangers as well as friendships and comradeship, a good question I thought, from the lady who asked. He responded in the positive and gave his reasons why including 'foolish government policies etc.' which given the economic devastation inflicted on this area. Fair enough. Alas for those of us in the group who did not heartily agree with this statement, at the end of the tour we were passively aggressively denied a handshake. For the youngsters out there he left us hanging. Not a big deal but just to point out no objections were voiced nor disdaining looks given on his views, we simply didn't cheer them either. To be clear. Every member of the staff here was friendly and welcoming as you expect in the valleys, they do keep a welcome. Just if you do visit, and if your interested at all in history and engineering I heartily recommend, should a guide suggest the return of coal, if you want your hand shake, agree:) If you don't, deduct a star, I had nothing...

An excellent place to visit. Static exhibition, mine tour, gift shops and good cafe. The exhibition (upstairs, lift available) very interesting. A plan of the extent of the mine superimposed on the land map is quite amazing. Lots of concise facts that give pause for thought; Friendly societies that became Trade Unions and the NHS The hardships endured in producing the coal vs the immense wealth of the mine owners. The vast distances the coal was shipped around the world fuelling industrialisation and Empire. Children as young as 4 employed in the mines. A miner killed every 6 hours, back in the day.

And much more ...

Take the underground tour, it really adds a lot of value to your visit. Our guide on the tour was Peter; lamp and underground token number 39 (very impressive qualifications). Peter worked a good double act with the appropriate AV. However, his 25 years working in the mines comes alive on this tour. He knows the fine detail of the mine and the broad context of mining on the local, national and environmental aspects of coal. Food for thought.

My personal impression of the whole experience here is that we are witnessing again the massive skew of profit to the very few. This time it is oil and gas not coal.

Sorry for that but this place is very well put together and provokes thought and gratitude to those who worked underground. Also, the relevance to issues of today, make this an exhibition of the past and the...

We went to the children's toy mine event for Christmas to see santa for my young daughter this year ,the prices was cheap and my hopes were not high as we had never been here before but i was pleasantly surprised to find the experience was great from the start of the tour to the end, the guide who walked you around was whitty and funny you were led from outside into the the mine via a very short lift ride where you proceeded through various areas of the mine with the guide creating a story as you went along, then just before meeting santa there was a interacting raindeer that told jokes and a little speech, then you met santa who was in turn funny also, credit must be do to these as this was a well thought out and good tour, l will definitely take my daughter here again next year. On leaving you can have a free coffee or tea and a mince pie which you are given a ticket to receive at the start of the tour it is by far one of the best santa meet and greets I have been too. There is a cafe with a good choice of food and drinks a old style shop with a craft workshop and a gift shop, restrooms ,disabled access and parking , though the floor in the mine is a but bumpy so would phone ahead to ask about whether they thought suitable for wheel chair or buggy access. There was a giant snow globe for photos and photos with santa a truly great...