Halloween half term fun being lined up at The Silver Mountain Experience. Families can experience some fang-tastic fun this Halloween half term at The Silver Mountain Experience, a popular family attraction based just outside Aberystwyth. Visitors to the Victorian mine can enjoy a variety of guided tours and surface attractions, as well as enjoying additional Halloween activities, perfect for all the family. Daring adventurers can brave The Black Chasm tour, where Welsh myths and legends come to life in a thrilling actor-led experience. From the gruesome mining conditions to the terrifying legendary beasts that roamed the lands, The Black Chasm is perfect for those over the age of 10, and for those who are feeling brave! It might have some extra spooky surprises this Halloween! Families with young adventurers can enjoy ‘A Dragon’s Tale’, an adventure filled quest to find a friendly mythical Welsh dragon hiding within the mines. For those interested in the history of Welsh mining, A Miner’s Life is another of the guided tours on offer, which delves into the fascinating facts of mining life in by-gone times. Alongside guided tours, there are extra Halloween activities for all little devils to enjoy. Children (and adults!) will enjoy The Witch’s Potion Halloween Trail, where they can help the resident witch find her missing potion ingredients. She might have a treat for those who find them all. Visitors can also let their creativity run wild and carve a show-stopping Pumpkin (supplement applies). Half Term Halloween runs on selected dates from October 21 to November 5. For more information and to pre-book your tickets visit www.silvermountainexperience.co.uk/spooky Visitors will also find Ultimate Xscape, two highly themed escape room experiences on-site at The Silver Mountain Experience. There are discounts when both attractions are booked, so visitors are encouraged to make a day of it? The Miner’s Rest Café is also on-site, serving a range of hot drinks, cakes and lunch options, which may be visited without visiting the attractions.
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Barry Macdonald and Luce Green from Falconry Experience Wales with their two new awards and two of their birds A popular Mid Wales visitor attraction and Welsh Raptor Conservation Centre completed a notable double at The Welsh Hospitality Awards 2023. Falconry Experience Wales, which moved to its new home alongside Llwyn Celyn holiday home park at Adfa, near Newtown at the start of this year, won the awards for Outdoor Venue of the Year and Family Venue of the Year. It’s the third time the business has won the Outdoor Venue of the Year award. Owners Barry Macdonald and Luce Green were elated to win two awards at the Cardiff ceremony. Now in their fifth year, the awards celebrate excellence in the country’s vibrant hospitality industry. With a focus on recognising outstanding businesses and individuals, the awards aim to inspire excellence, foster innovation and promote the highest standards in Welsh hospitality. “It’s wonderful to be recognised for the important work that we do educate the public and promote raptor conservation,” said Barry, who thanked Diane and Lee Whitehouse, owners of Llwyn Celyn holiday home park, for providing a new home for the popular business. “The birds love the outstanding beauty and nature gardens run by Diane and Lee. We are so grateful to them for providing us with a new start and the homeowners have been so supportive that they are very much part of the family now.” Soon after moving from the Machynlleth area to their new home, Barry and Luce had to postpone reopening Falconry Experience Wales due to outbreaks of bird flu in the surrounding communities. However, the business took off in early summer and the reviews from customers about the range of experiences offered have been overwhelmingly positive. “We have been truly humbled by the wonderful reviews, after an eventful end to 2022 and start 2023,” added Luce. “To meet existing and new customers and friends has been the most enjoyable and inspiring experience for us.” Raptor conservation days with popular naturalist and TV presenter Iolo William, focused on education for conservation and preservation, have also been very successful. Barry and Luce, who have worked with raptors for more than 30 years and have an active background in wildlife conservation in the UK and abroad, have welcomed a new member to their bird team this year. Hooded Vulture Togo, who has recently begun training to fly to glove, will soon be joined by a female as part of an important breeding programme to save the endangered species. The Hooded Vulture is persecuted in African, where its population has declined by more than 80 per cent. Barry and Luce work with various organisations, such as a Raptor Rehabilitation Centre in Namibia. Falconry Experience Wales is a member of MWT Cymru (Mid Wales Tourism), an independent organisation representing around 600 tourism and hospitality businesses across Powys, Ceredigion and Southern Snowdonia. A spokesperson for the award organisers said: “The awards have has once again showcased the remarkable talent and exceptional standards within the vibrant Welsh hospitality industry. “The 2023 winners have consistently demonstrated excellence, innovation and dedication in their respective categories, setting the benchmark for quality and service within the Welsh hospitality industry.” Other award winners from Mid Wales were: Best Entertaining Team, Quackers, Llandrindod Wells. Best Welsh Festival, Landed Festival, Llandrindod Wells. Best Golf Club, Cardigan Golf Club. Value Hotel of the Year, Royal Ship Hotel, Dolgellau. Romantic Hotel of the Year and Central Wales Restaurant of the Year, The Falcondale hotel and restaurant, Lampeter. Hotel of the Year overall winner and Central Wales winner, Y Talbot, Tregaron. Central Wales Casual Dining Restaurant of the Year Central, The Kerry Lamb, Kerry. South West Wales Casual Dining Restaurant of the Year, Crwst, Cardigan and Central Wales Pub/Inn of the Year, Lamb and Flag Inn, Rhayader. Runners tackle a previous Ron Skilton Memorial Half Marathon. The contribution Ron Skilton made to Green Events in Llanwrtyd Wells will be remembered in a half marathon to raise money for the Motor Neurone Disease Association later this month.
Entries are being accepted for the annual Ron Skilton Memorial Half Marathon which takes place in Llanwrtyd Wells on Sunday, October 22. Starting in the town centre at 11am, the “tough but fun” half marathon route is a figure of eight, mainly off-road and passes through magnificent mountainous scenery. The event is organised by Green Events, of which Ron was treasurer before MND took his life in December, 2005. Money raised by the memorial half marathon will go to the charity researching the disease. “In his younger years, Ron was a keen runner and cyclist, so we felt that an annual half marathon would be a fitting tribute as well as a way to remember him and celebrate his life,” said Bob Greenough from Green Events. “Around half of the marshals on the day will be members of the Skilton family who travel from different parts of the UK to be with us. “It is a mainly off road, all terrain event involving a number of hilly challenges. Tough but fun seems to be the most adequate description of the event.” Runners can enter either online at www.Green-events.co.uk for £15 or on the day for £17. They are asked to inform registration staff if they wish to race as a two person relay but enter as solo runners. Medals will be presented to all finishers and there will be free refreshments for competitors after the race. Ron helped Green Events to establish Llanwrtyd Wells’ reputation for organising a series of off the wall, outdoor activities. Thousands of visitors enjoy annual events such as the World Bog Snorkelling Championship, Man versus Horse race, the Real Ale Wobble and Ramble and the World Mountain Bike Chariot Racing Championship. . The other events planned during the final months of the year include: a Real Ale Wobble, a non-competitive event for mountain bikers through local forestry and other trails, on November 18, the Real Ale Ramble, comprising gentle walks through the surrounding countryside, on November 25 and 26 and the Mari Lwyd New Year Walk on December 31. Green Events is a member of MWT Cymru (Mid Wales Tourism), an independent organisation that represents around 600 tourism and hospitality businesses across Powys, Ceredigion and Southern Snowdonia. Exciting developments at MWT Cymru3/10/2023 We're thrilled to announce that we've secured UK Shared Prosperity Funding (SPF) for a groundbreaking project that integrates Web 3.0/Blockchain technology.
This emerging tech is something we'll be hearing much more about in the near future. Our pioneering initiative aims to engage with local communities in Powys. Once we establish a foundation, we plan to expand it across Mid Wales. The core idea? Revitalise our town centres, strengthen bonds within communities, and reward local shopping – acknowledging the deep connection between tourism and community. Stay tuned for more details in the upcoming weeks. Currently, we're on the hunt for three new team members: a part-time project manager (3 days/week) and two full-time business engagement officers. If you or someone you know has relevant expertise, we'd love to hear from you. There was a slight delay in receiving approval from SPF, which means our timeline is tight so we need to hit the ground running to make the most of this opportunity for Mid Wales! Job opportunities: Five live action horror attractions await visitors at Terror Mountain. Wales’ biggest Halloween event returns for 2023, ready to terrify those brave enough to visit during October.
Set in an old Victorian mine just outside Aberystwyth, the award-winning Terror Mountain returns for its eighth year, ready to bring nightmares to life with a horde of frightening creatures. Set to be the biggest year yet, visitors can experience five frighteningly immersive LIVE ACTION horror attractions, as well as a food, a bar and so much more. Terror Mountain is bringing a horrifying new addition to the line-up in 2023, in the form of apocalyptic thriller Sanctum. Visitors can take shelter in one of the last safe places on earth, as they seek shelter against a terrifying throng of demons trying to end humanity. Will you see the light of day again? Alongside Sanctum, the award-winning attraction KILLERZ returns to Terror Mountain 2023. Get ready to be a part of an exciting new horror film being shot on location at Terror Mountain, but there’s something the director isn’t telling you… Winner of Best Original Concept and Idea at the 2023 ScareCON SCAR Awards, KILLERZ is not one for the feint-hearted. As well as KILLERZ, there will be some returning favourites including the terrifying Summoning, where visitors witness a séance that goes horribly wrong. Only the bravest of souls will venture into the forest, as rumours are rife that The Coven has returned, and they’re looking for new blood sacrifices. There is also a chance to experience a paranormal investigation at Haunted: Live – what could possibly go wrong in a haunted Victorian mine? Terror Mountain is running on selected nights aptly from Friday, October 13 to 31. Don’t miss your chance for an epic night of terrifying fun this October. Tickets are strictly limited and sold out in 2022, so pre-book online at www.terrormountain.co.uk/tickets. View the Terror Mountain 2023 trailer at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U4Fje0Zu7_8&ab_channel=TerrorMountain .
Dwellings and landmarks were given names such as the ‘California of Wales’, the ‘Welsh Broken Hill’ and ‘Spain’. The ‘Welsh Potosi’ grew to be so important that it led to a significant change in the future of British metal mining in 1693. Today, the industrial significance of these hills between Aberystwyth and Llangurig is largely forgotten and the name has long vanished from every map. It is hoped that this book will breathe new life and interest into the once-famous ‘Welsh Potosi’. Ioan, a director of the Welsh Mines Preservation Trust and Cambrian Mines Trust, has spent many years researching the history and archaeology of metal mining in Central Wales. His passion for this history, as well as his knowledge, is clear to see in his work, studying the rise and fall of mining, railways and society in and around the Plynlimon Mountains, with many amazing images taken during his authorised exploration of the mines. This new title builds on the success of his first book published by the Vale of Rheidol Railway, ‘Rich Mountains of Lead’, of which the first print run completely sold out. A formal book launch will take place on Saturday, October 21 at the Vale of Rheidol Railway, timed to coincide with the 1:30pm train arrival at Aberystwyth, where Ioan will be available to talk about his book, sign copies and answer questions. The new book is available only from the railway. With the initial print run being limited in numbers and interest expected to be high, early ordering to avoid disappointment is recommended. See https://www.rheidolrailway.co.uk/shop/ for ordering information. |
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