 |
On this page you will find just about anything you need in order to enjoy your visit to Glyn-Coch that bit more!!
| Opening times etc. | |
10.00 am to 6.00pm in summer. (Period when clocks set to BST)
10.00am to sunset in winter. (Period when clocks set to GMT)
School Holidays we are open 7 days a week, except Dec 25th, 26th and Jan 1st.
Summer BST (outside school holidays) 6 days a week. Closed on Tuesdays.
Winter GMT (outside school holidays) 5 days a week. Closed on Sundays and Tuesdays.
Entry is FREE. Parking is FREE until further notice.
(Bad mistake that, because permanently FREE entry means that we cannot advertise in the County Council's discount brochure!)
If you would like to contact us for campsite/group bookings, enquiries, or any other reason, please contact us at the following:
Glyn-Coch Craft Centre Pwll Trap, St. Clears, Carmarthenshire, Wales, UK Tel: 01994 231867 (info@glyn-coch.com) For enquiries on how to use the website or on the website design please contact the webmaster here: (webmaster@glyn-coch.com) Tel: 01994 231867 SAT/NAV users. Please use our map reference OS SN 259 175. Our post code area is very large so using the postcode will get you lost! 6TH - 8TH APRIL 2010 WORK AT THE LOCAL TELEPHONE EXCHANGE IS NOW COMPLETE AND OUR PHONE AND E-MAIL IS NOW WORKING NORMALLY. (We hope!) |
The following demonstrations and courses are offered as informal 'fun' activities. - In this context 'course' implies individuals or groups of people sharing enjoyment of a common interest in a progressive way, rather then working towards a formal qualification. During the 'course' you will experience several aspects of the interest followed, and where relevant share in the use of our equipment. Advance booking is required for items 5 and 7,8 and 10-12. The quality of the course is likely to improve with the amount of warning we get, but we hope to be able to run enjoyable 'emergency' courses at 24 hrs notice in most subject areas.
Title |
Price* |
Description |
| Exhibition | Temporarily out of use | |
| Pottery Demonstration | Free | We will describe how we make and decorate our pottery, and will, on request, provide a small informal demonstration |
| Ceramic cafe | Starts at £5.00 | Throw a pot on a wheel using self hardening clay, that you can take home straight away, or try a range of more complicated decorating or making projects. (Some projects may need to later visit to collect your project after firing.) |
| Creative Activities for Children | Cost of materials | We have some creative activities for individuals and small groups of up to 3 children. (Prior appointment needed for bigger groups) For example |
| Children's parties | Depends on numbers and activities | Typically centred on activities in the pottery, they may also include guided tours of our 20th Century Technology displays and Woodland and Farm. Finish with tea. |
| Craft Demonstrations | Price on Application^ |
Many of our suppliers are prepared to demonstrate their crafts. (At least one months notice required.) |
Informal Courses in Glyn-Coch Crafts |
Price on Application^ | Thelma is an experienced further ed teacher and is prepared to run introductory courses in any of her crafts - pottery, glass painting, greeting card making etc. (Previous students have gone on to produce items for sale, and membership of local craft organisations, but our emphasis is on having fun, and you decide how far you go.) |
| Guided tours of Glyn-Coch. | £2.00/person Min 3 people |
We will take you round the craft area, farm, and woodland walk describing features of interest. |
| Farming and countryside issues | Price on Application^ | Judging by the press recently there is quite a gulf between town and country. Even broadsheet newspapers seem to have little understanding of what happens in fields. We attempt to bridge the gap! |
| Farming or ecological skills | Price on Application^ |
Let's have a go at estate management, farm machinery use and maintenance, shepherding, plant or lepidoptera (moth and butterfly) identification! |
Basic Computing skills |
Price on Application^ | Never tried, or tried and been put off? We will help you to set up a system, and do basic Word Processing, Spread Sheet and Internet tasks |
| Goto Safety Advice |
* As likely 'students' will be on holiday, the length of a course will be tailored to the length of your stay in the area and your expectations of the course. It will also depend on the number of participants. As this is the first year of courses, and as a rough guide, we are hoping to charge £20 an hour for our time regardless of numbers, but numbers will be limited by the availability of space and equipment. If there are 4 students each will pay £5.00 towards our time, plus any consumables. For some courses we may have to charge for preparation time, but we will let you know before we start.
^Advanced warning required. Normally at least 24 hrs, but beyond that the longer the warning the better the course - we hope!
We care about your safety and try to protect you from all hazards. Please tell us if you see problems which we have missed.
We produce risk assessments which are inspected by the County Council.
Our fire procedures are displayed in the shop.
Our Kitchen is inspected by the County Council, and we have a Food Standards Agency bronze food hygiene award , which is the highest category available to an organisation of this size.
As we do not employ staff we are not obliged to carry out COSSH assessments. However, with members of the public on site, and the prospect of work experience students etc. we have now assessed nearly all substances we use, both in public areas and elsewhere. Having made the assessment we endeavour to replace chemicals seen as posing a risk with safer chemicals. The small scale of our operation means that most risks are negligible, though of course we are not complacent and monitor changes in our own use, and also scientific developments which may identify risk from substances previously though to be safe.
Our wiring has been installed and inspected by qualified electricians, and portable equipment is regularly PAT tested.
Our fire extinguishers are professionally serviced every year.
We work with our vet to ensure the health and well being of our animals.
When we manufacture a new product and perceive a potential hazard we seek advice from Trading Standards as to whether we need to change the product, or use an appropriate form of labeling. Trading standards also periodically test our china for lead content.
Our campsite is inspected annually by the Camping and Caravan Club.
Following well publicised cases in which visitors to other open farms have become ill after coming into contact with farm animals we must ask you NOT TO TOUCH THE ANIMALS here at Glyn-Coch.
You must wash your hands before eating, and as a sensible precaution you are advised also to wash your hands before leaving.
We make every effort to ensure that our animals are healthy, and to minimise the risk.
Please watch your children at all times as farms can be dangerous places.
Leaflets describing various features of Glyn-Coch are available (free) in the shop. Each leaflet includes a short safety advice section. There is also a Safety leaflet which includes the safety advice from each activity leaflet.
Please observe all safety signs or other advice given by us. We protect you from some hazards by roping them off, or by erecting hurdles etc.. Please do not move, or cross such barriers.
Please hold on to handrails when provided.
Please do not enter any of the red painted farm buildings without asking us first.
This is the section where we will tell you news about Glyn-Coch and its products.
Date |
News |
| 25/1/2010 |
Sorry not to have written for a while, but with an extremely wet autumn and the snow since Christmas we have had plenty to do. (We had to bring the sheep indoors just after Christmas as there was so much snow that I couldn't tell how much of the food I was giving then they were actually eating. So the poor things are getting fed up with a dry diet indoors while I am desperately hoping for a RELIABLE forecast of settled weather so that they can go out again. Needless to say the indoor routine is a lot more time consuming then when they are outdoors.) Thelma is madly preparing for the TRADE SHOW at Margam Park next weekend. The first day for trade buyers is Sunday and we pack up on Tuesday. I am sure that everyone will want to go to this wonderful show and if you contact us we will make sure that you get an invitation. Remember the South Wales Gift Show is a Trade Show, and is intended for business customers only. It covers most types of tourism and typical buyers will be running hotels, Bed and Breakfast, Guest Houses, Campsites, Tourist Attractions, Gift Shops, China shops etc. It covers everything from buckets and spades to specially commissioned works of art. If you would like our new catalogue please phone 0994 231 867 |
| 16/2/2010 |
Well, as usual the Margam Park show was a magnificent event. We covered the cost of going, and renewed acquaintances with all our old friends. Thelma is madly packing up ceramic buttons, sheep earrings and pendants to fulfill the orders. And today we have received a new display stand for us to display them at the local craft shows. Its not all good news though. Like everyone else, we are not immune to the recession, and that and the fact that we are reaching retirement age, means that we are reviewing our options. We are still a going concern, and at the moment we are valuing the business to see whether it is possible to grow our way through these troubled times. or whether we should move. Some of the valuations suggest that perhaps we could buy a property more suited to our aching bones, and so we are thinking of selling. For details look at our Farm for Sale page. If we do move, we hope to take the museums with us, and to continue the craft making that we do now. e will, of course, still be interested in the wildlife, but sadly will probably not be able to keep the flock going........ though .....maybe...we could try one or two Shetlands, which are half the weight, but do have fine Merino type wool! Thinking of sheep, we hope to pick up a few freezer packs on Friday - so if you are interested please look at the Animals page or ring 01994 231867. Otherwise we will have enough lamb to keep us going for another decade! |
| 17/2/2010 |
Isn't life great? The day after creating the Farm for Sale page we get a letter through the post inviting us to the Terrace of The House of Lords because we have been short listed for the Beautiful Farms award! You can read about the competition here, and see our entry here. We only had 36 hours to prepare the entry - so it just shows that leaping blindly really is a useful tactic! Don't forget that we will shortly have some beautiful Norfolk Horn Lamb for you to buy. Fresh on Friday and frozen thereafter. |
| 10/3/2010 |
The Beautiful Farms event at the House of Lords. We had a lovely day. Those aristocrats certainly know how to organise a good party! We didn't win, but got a commended certificate. Not bad when you consider that many of the farms entered were 100 times the size of ours. When the pictures were taken afterwards our group included the Webbers of Hindon Farm, Minehead. I must have known other members of the family, as I grew up in Minehead, and some of the first farms I worked on were only about 2 miles from Hindon Farm! To see more about the Award Ceremony see the Farm Business Magazine write up. |
| 3/4/10 |
Hi. Since I last wrote Ken and Sue have brought us some more cameras and, perhaps more importantly a nice display case, so some of the cameras have moved out of the cardboard boxes, and you can see them properly. See our new Camera page for more information. Their visit was a bit sad, though, as they have sold their house and are off to New Zealand to live. We wish them well in their new adventure! Twitchers will be excited to hear that I saw a Harrier (probably a Hen Harrier, I thought), flying over the house twice during the week, and it has been seen again today, by our friend Dai. Dai is an expert on exotic cage birds, and modestly claims to know nothing about our local birds, however his description suggests that it may have been an even rarer Marsh Harrier. Between sightings, I have heard an occasional raptor call, which is unlike either our Buzzards or Red Kites, so it is possible that this bird, or birds, may be thinking of spending the summer here. For more information see our Ecology page and scroll down to Birds. If you are interested in moving here, don't forget to look at our Farm for Sale page. Don't forget that we have a freezer full of succulent Norfolk Horn Lamb for you to buy - if you can get here to collect it. |
| 8/4/10 |
The Hen Harriers have put in several more appearances, but it appears that our rooks and jackdaws have organised a vigilante group and are trying to drive them away. I think that we may have a female here, but the male is finding it very difficult to get back, and appears to have moved towards Whitland. Our tea room roof has sprung a leak in the recent wet weather, and, so far professional advice is that a repair will cost far more then last year's meagre takings will justify. However we are investigating alternative strategies, but until we find a promising one the tea room will remain closed. Watch this space for developments. Following on from the Beautiful Farm Awards, we have already had an article published in the St Clears Times, and understand that there will soon be an article in the Carmarthen Journal, in the Camping and Caravan Club Magazine and in the Bat Conservation Trust newsletter. We have also had an intriguing phone call from a Television Company, however the initial message was left when our phone was down. So we wait with baited breath! At long last the season has started again, and customers are once more beating a path to the craft shop. One party came, today, to collect the items they had decorated earlier in the week. They included a really beautiful cat and dragon, and a very intricately decorated egg cup. We have just received our confirmation of stand booking for Wonderwool Wales which is to be held on the Royal Welsh Showground at Builth Wells at the end of the month Lambing starts next week, so we are busy sterilising lose boxes and assembling lambing pens. So my blogging duties may have to take a back seat for the next few weeks. |
|
20/4/10 |
What beautiful weather. And what's more we have clear blue skies without a vapour trail anywhere to be seen! Now we know what damage the airline industry does, I hope that they well be persuaded to pay the full costs of their awful industry. Just like the Banks, though, the government is already helping them out, by using the Royal Navy to bring their passengers home. I wonder how big a cheque BA and Ryanair (among others) will pay for this service? I hear their excuses already, but they have known for several years that ash and jets don't get on, and yet they do not seem to have specified a modified engine for their new airliners, or discussed contingency plans with the authorities, or within the industry. And every school child knows about volcanic activity in Iceland and which way the world rotates! Our sympathy and good wishes go to the victims of this monumental incompetence. Our flying celebrities, the Hen Harriers, seem to have decided to continue their northward journey, as we have had no sightings for the last couple of days. But what a privilege to have seen these magnificnet birds. Thelma is preparing to move northwards as well. The boxes and bags are already packed, and the caravan and car are being checked over ready for the trip to Builth Wells and WONDERWOOL WALES. We look forwards to seeing you there at the weekend. |
| 30th June 2010 |
Many apologies for not keeping you up to date. We have been lambing - very late this year due to the wet summer last year and an unintended affect of Government Policy - I will try not to bore you with the details. Nevertheless this is not a good time to lamb, and I have spent most of the time since April working 20 hour shifts. Now things are easing up in the barn, and I will have to try and catch up on all those other jobs. Thelma had a good time at Wonderwool Wales, and has made enquiries about the Wool show at Cockermouth in Cumbria. With luck we hope to be there in 2011 as well as at Builth Wells. Nothing much to report on the wildlife - birds are beginning to settle down after the Hen Harriers' visit. I am investigating one strange song I heard regularly in May, but now I have had time to listen to the RSPB CD the bird has stopped singing. At the moment the best match is a Golden Oriel, but I feel sure that there wouldn't have been one here. Has anyone got any better ideas? (Comment above) I have just updated our show calendar. We are planning to go to the exciting new series of Food and Craft shows that the Carmarthenshire Centre for Crafts are organising in St Clears. It is hoped that there will be nearly 30 exhibitors on alternate Fridays starting on 30th July. It is hoped that they will also be able to turn out for the St Clears Christmas Lights switch on which will be held on 28th November. This event usually includes a carnival procession, local choirs, celebrity guests and all the fun of the fair. |
| 5th July 2010 |
I thought that you might like to see these cheerful mugs - part of a batch we are decorating for a customer.
Just a reminder that we can decorate bone china to your specification. We can use any picture which you or we own. We can do single items, or large batches. We decorate various items for Christenings, Weddings, Anniversaries, Graduations, or any other event you wish to remember. Price depends on the size and complexity of the job, but we aim to be competitive. Simple jobs, when we have all items in stock (and we already have the prepared artwork), can be done in a fortnight, but if possible please allow 2 months as most of our suppliers are subject to 'potters fortnight'. All the bone china we decorate is hard wearing and the decoration is permanent, so it is suitable for both ornamental and every day use. We even use our hand painted china in our tea room. Whether hand painted or hand decorated it can be washed every day, even in the dishwasher. Contact us by letter, phone or e-mail for details |
| 21 July 2010
|
Latest
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Hi. A bus turned up here today. Unfortunately the organiser of the trip had neither visited us nor contacted us when planning the trip, so , very sadly, the group leader (not the organiser) was disappointed with what she found. She had expected a large craft centre like the wonderful one at Corris. This was a sad occasion for the elderly group members, and for us. So please, please, if you are organising a group visit look at the information for group leaders on this page. Normally we love to be visited by groups, and with suitable notice can organise demonstrations, practical sessions, guided walks, and special catering. You tell us what you want, and we will try to organise it for you. We have been visited by Schools, Young Farmers Clubs, Women's Institutes, Church Groups, Prince's Trust Groups, University of the Third Age, Social Service Groups, Special Needs Groups, Mystery Tours, Retirement homes etc etc. Better news! We have sold the twin tub washing machine which has been advertised on our surplus equipment page. Keep an eye on the surplus equipment page, because it is bound to get busier as our move draws near. You never know what we may decide to sell. |
St Clears is on the main London to Dublin route which is formed by the M4 motorway, the A48, A40 and the Fishguard to Rosslaire ferry. Dual carriageway is continuous from London to St Clears.
Leave St Clears by-pass on the A40 towards Haverfordwest. After half a mile turn right at the brown Tourist Board sign ('Glyn-Coch') towards Pwll-Trap. As you head into the village turn left opposite the White Lion Public House. After 500yds turn left again and follow the road until it becomes a narrow lane. Go through the gate where the lane merges with our drive and continue straight on for another 500yds until you reach the farm house.
Traveling from Haverfordwest on the A40 pass Narbeth and Whitland, and after about 2 miles pass the turning to Groveland Adventure World, and go on another half mile on the A40 before turning left ( following signs to Pwll-Trap and the brown signs to Glyn-Coch) half a mile before the St Clears roundabout.
If walking, cycling, or motoring from St Clears follow the signs for Pwll-Trap and turn right opposite the White Lion. (This is shorter and avoids traveling along the A40.)
SAT/NAV should not be used for the last 2 miles of your journey. Please use the brown Tourist Board signs to Glyn-Coch Craft Centre instead.
http://www.theaa.com the route planner is excellent, and if you are coming here, will help you to find us on a map, so that you will know when to ignore your Sat/Nav. Most Sat/navs assume that the post code areas are of uniform size in urban and rural areas. Unfortunately that assumption is wrong, and we live in a very big rural post code area! You might also like to look at http://www.rac.co.uk.
Remember to use our signs (starting 1/2 a mile west of the St Clears roundabout on the A40) once you get within 2 miles of here, and please IGNORE your Sat/Nav, which could lead you onto a manually operated level crossing on a main railway line where you get 13seconds notice of 2000 tonnes of petrol approaching at 70 miles an hour!
If you are coming from over the border a look at http://www.severnbridge.co.uk will keep you up to date with the tolls on either of the Severn crossings, and warn of engineering works or closures due to weather. Severn Bridge and Severn Crossing cost £5.40 (as at 1/1/09 - please check Severn Bridge website (above)) for private cars, payable when crossing from England into Wales. Disabled badge holders cross free.
Railway travelers should look at http://www.rail.co.uk Our nearest railway stations are at Carmarthen and Whitland
• Stena Line, one of the
world's leading ferry companies, offers low fares and a speedier ferry travel
service to Ireland, Britain and Holland. With their extensive route network, Stena
Line gives you more flexibility and choice. As well as a range of hotel breaks,
self-catering, landbridge holidays and the option to travel by car, by rail, by
coach or on foot, you will enjoy excellent service and value for money. Book
early and online for our lowest fares! Fishguard Rosslaire. (But foot
passengers should not risk getting stuck in Rosslaire, as the ferry
terminal is some distance from the village. Also note that if you are returning
by the evening ferry the nearby town of Wexford closes down at 5.30pm. Dunns
stays open, but it is one of the few branches which does not have a restaurant.
Rather, plan to have your breaks further west or north. Ireland is a wonderful
country, so don't be put off by the SE corner!) )
•The Ferries division of the Irish Continental Group comprises of Irish
Ferries, the leading ferry operator to and from the Republic of Ireland, and
the Group’s ship chartering activities. Irish Ferries operates four ferries on
international routes between Ireland and the UK and between Ireland and France.
Over the last few years, they have invested over €450 million in new fleet and
port facilities. They now (1/1/09) have the most modern fleet in Europe including Ulysses,
the World’s Largest Car Ferry, the Dublin Swift on the Dublin – Holyhead
route and the Isle of Inishmore on the Pembroke - Rosslare route. In addition,
we are very proud to have introduced a new addition to the fleet at the
beginning of 2008 – the luxurious Oscar Wilde.
• National Rail Enquiries are
the official information service for National Rail. National Rail is the
collective name for the train companies who operate Britain's rail service. They
provide impartial advice on rail travel, and their performance is strictly
regulated by the Department for Transport. National Rail Enquiries' website
provides the same up-to-the-minute advice on journey planning and train service
updates as their telephone service. It uses the same data systems as the telephone
service and is updated at the same time with latest changes and disruption
information.
•
thetrainline is the leading independent retailer of train tickets online. They sell tickets for all train companies on all national routes, with access to over 293 million fare and journey combinations.
UK RAILWAYS on the net (www.rail.co.uk) is a rail portal that links to journey planning web sites, train operating companies and rail associated businesses"
Network Rail owns and operates
Britain’s rail infrastructure. They are working to provide Britain with a
safe, reliable and efficient railway fit for the 21st century.
Network Rail's railway links page lists all sorts of railway museums, steam excursions and other ways to enjoy yourselves on the railway.
• American visitors to Britain may like to visit the Britrail website to plan their journeys and book tickets or travel passes before leaving home.
•Another site providing links to railway information is http://www.rail.co.uk
Whether you are coming to stay on our campsite, or just calling in on your way to Fishguard (Pembroke, or Swansea) to catch the ferry for Ireland we hope that you will find the following table useful. If you're passing, just drop in for a snack in our tea room, or select a souvenir from the craft shop. If you're staying in the area, take a stroll round the woodland walk or look at our Rare Breed animals, or farm museum. Most of the information in the table was gleaned from internet route finders, or from distance triangles in printed atlases.
How far away are we from where you live? |
|||
Town |
Route |
|
|
Fishguard |
A477,A40 |
35miles |
0.8 |
Haverfordwest |
A40 |
22miles |
0.53 |
Narbeth |
A40 |
12miles |
0.18 |
| Whitland | A40 | 5miles | 0.08 |
| Tenby | A478,A477,A40 | 18miles | 0.26 |
| Llanelli | A484,A48,A40 | 29miles | 0.39 |
| Carmarthen | A40 | 10miles | 0.11 |
| Swansea | M4, A48, A40 |
36miles | 0.44 |
| Cardiff | A470,M4, A48, A40 | 76miles | 1.24 |
| Bristol* | M4, A48, A40 |
117miles | 2.25 |
| Oxford* | A420, M4, A48, A40 | 180miles | 3.25 |
| London* | M4, A48, A40 |
225miles | 4.08 |
Southampton* |
A33,M3,A34,M4, A48, A40 |
211miles | 3.55 |
| Dorchester* | A303, A358, M5, M4, A48, A40 |
199miles | 3.5 |
| Swindon* | M4, A48, A40 | 146miles | 2.42 |
| Gloucester* | A40, A449, M4, A48, A40 |
136miles | 2.33 |
| Taunton* | M5, M4, A48, A40 | 159miles | 2.51 |
| Exeter* | M5, M4, A48, A40 | 192miles | 3.28 |
| Truro* | A39,A30,M5,M4,A48,A40 |
279miles | 5.21 |
| Aberystwyth | A487,A486,A484,A40 |
60miles | 1.25 |
| Cardigan | A478, A40 | 31miles | 0.46 |
| Brecon | A40 | 57miles | 1.16 |
| Hereford* | A438,A470,A40 | 95miles | 2.09 |
| Manchester* | M56,M53,A55,A483,A470,A40 | 190miles | 4.23 |
| Edinburgh* | A73,M74,M6,M53,A5,A483,A470,A40 |
394miles |
8.07 |
*^ Add time for rest breaks to times shown, we want you here in one piece!
Distance and time approximate. (We are aware that some "official" looking advice on journey times requires you do drive well above the legal speed limits, and although we would wish you to have a speedy journey, we do not want you to put either your lives, or your driving licence at risk. So please regard the above as minimum times, and allow at least 15% more to allow for delays, new or temporary speed limits etc.)
This section will contains links that we think may be useful to you. (As usual we take no responsibility for anything at all, especially the content, performance or safety of anyone else's webs site! The links below all worked and provided what we consider to be useful information on 15/2/09) Most of the information given in text surrounding the links is extracted from the website's home page, but most of the information in italics is my own! I hope it helps! I should add that no one has paid for these links, and they are included solely because I personally liked the service offered. You are allowed to disagree with me. If you find problems with any of the links, please let me know.
Build useful web links using www.crosslink-builder.com
•A particularly useful site for planning holidays anywhere in the UK is UK Hotels, Guest Accommodation & Leisure Attractions. Click on their logo to visit their site, but don't forget to book mark our site before you go.
We are members of the Carmarthenshire Tourist Association and their website will give you information about other attractions and places to stay in the county. A very pretty but cumbersome site, which is probably worth struggling with!
• The West and Wales Web is a network of pages to introduce you to the scenic splendour of Wales, and to tell you about some of the things you can do there, places where you can stay, and the products for which Wales is famous.
• Welcome to Wales. And welcome to the Visit Wales site. Have fun exploring it, find out more about our country and when you are ready to visit for real there's lots of help for planning and booking your trip, too.
• The Pembrokeshire Coast National Park is Britain's only truly coastal National Park. It's a spectacular landscape of rugged cliffs, sandy beaches, wooded estuaries and wild inland hills, and a place of sanctuary for wildlife. People belong here, too. They have shaped the landscape over the centuries, leaving their mark in tombs and castles, crosses and cottages, quarries and quays. Today this is a living, working landscape where people and nature co-exist. The National Park Authority looks after it, helps the public to enjoy and understand it, and works with local communities towards a sustainable future. The Pembrokeshire Coast Path starts at Amroth, which is only a few miles from Glyn-Coch Craft Centre.
• If you are interested in finding out about particular towns in Wales you could try visiting Search Wales, which will assist you in finding information about all aspects of life in Wales covering tourism, historical buildings and information on businesses in the principality.
• Wales Holidays is one of the largest independent cottage holiday agencies in the UK and is the only one to let properties throughout all areas of Wales.
• Welcome to What’s On Wales, your essential guide to the best arts events in Wales.
• Welcome to Pembrokeshire This site aims to give information about Pembrokeshire - as we find it and as we find time to put it up ... and is always 'under construction'.
In this section all comments are my own. OF COURSE the very best place to eat is our own Glyn-Coch Tea Room, but just in case you want a change I have listed some of the opposition!
The nearest place is the White Lion Public House (Tel 01994 230 370) in Pwll Trap. The White Lion is a very friendly local. The family cook bar meals, and they have a dining room if you want to eat away from the bar. Food is freshly cooked for you, and their three course Sunday dinner is a local legend and very economical!
For a standard meal why not go to the Little Chef on the St Clears roundabout on the A40. Sorry, the link is to the Travellodge which is on the same site. The Little Chef website places the restaurant at the wrong end of the village, and cannot find details of it. Though when I last passed it, the restaurant was still open and run by Little Chef!
St Clears itself has several pubs selling food, of which the Black Lion (01994 231 700) and the Corvus (01994 230 965) seem to be the front runners. Recent (i.e., since I last had time to visit) changes of ownership cloud the picture a little, but we expect great things when the new owners settle in.
A little to the east of St Clears and fronting directly onto the A40 is the Forge Restaurant Tel: 01994 230300 SA33 4NA It is good for a family night out. It is a mid priced and quite comfortable building with nice food and friendly staff. Often used for business meetings etc.
A more luxurious pub-type meal can be had at the Fox and Hounds (01267 211 341) in Bancyfelin 5 miles East of St Clears, just off the A40.
About the same distance north of St Clears is The New Inn at Meidrim which serves French and Traditional Cuisine. Tel 01994 231 146
The greasy spoon restaurant in the middle of St Clears, previously called 'Truly Scrumptious' in Gwalia House sold excellent home cooked food, but again has recently changed hands. I am told that the new owners are maintaining the standard set by their predecessors.
St Clears have a selection of takeaways including Chinese, Indian, and a Pizza house all of which have good reputations. However Neil's fish and chip shop deserves a special mention, with fast and friendly service with well cooked and locally sourced fish and potatoes. Their pies are made by the local butcher. If the family can't make up their minds between Chinese and British cuisine we recommend trying the takeaway in Whitland which does both. During the day there is also an excellent burgher van parked in the car park near Whitland station.
For a posher meal at a restaurant that is easy to find try the Road House ( Tel 01994 241 193 ) which is situated on the Whitland roundabout about 7 miles west of St Clears. If you look at the website, don't be put off by the coach. It is no longer there! The new building really is very nice, and the owners are still putting in the effort by which they built the business from its very modest beginnings.
Very highly recommended for a family night out is the Lamb Inn in Llanboidy. The pub itself is nothing to write home about, but the welcome is. The dining room is lovely, and the home cooked food wonderful, and wont break the bank. As it is a small family business they do not cook every night, (though Thursday is curry night.) so it is a good idea to phone Mrs Murray on 01994 448 243 to book. On nights when they would not otherwise open the restaurant they will do so for groups of 6 or more - so why not arrange to go with some friends? To get there from St Clears drive westward to the Whitland roundabout turn right following the signs to Llanboidy. You reach the village in about 6 miles. The Lamb Inn is in the middle of the village. They have a fairly small menu, restricted to that which they can do very well indeed, but main courses , when last we visited included steak, gammon, scampi, ham and chicken. Their garlic mushroom starter is much admired and their meat is wonderfully succulent!
On the way to Llanboidy you will pass Jabajak's restaurant which is set back from the road. On a nice day this is really beautiful, and the catering is pretty wonderful as well. My daughter had her wedding reception there, and I cannot imagine a better place!
To the south of St Clears the nearby village of Laugharne (Dylan Thomas's inspiration for 'Under Milk Wood') has several fine restaurants and famous pubs, but if you really want to push the boat out, how about Hurst House, about a mile beyond the village, where an evening meal can cost a £100 and, I'm told, justifies the price. If you want to sample the cuisine at more affordable prices try going at midday.
The following link is by someone with more experience of the local pubs then I have, but most of what is said is consistent with what I have been told about the hostelries mentioned . The information is also useful for owners of dogs who like a drink! (On a point of caution, the Level Crossing s/he mentions is on the other branch of Ffynnongain lane from us. It is about 1/4 a mile away, or about 10 seconds away by the 2000 tonne petrol trains, that go at speeds approaching 75 miles an hour - so be VERY careful if you use this crossing. You only get 13 seconds warning. You wont be the first to have your car cut in half. The last victim was using SAT NAV and had been taken in completely the wrong direction. Part of her problem was that post code areas are much bigger in the countryside then in cities. So, if possible, feed map references into your SAT NAV rather then post codes. Ours is OS SN 259 175.
• we are members of Crafts from Carmarthenshire which is a group of crafts people living and working in the county. The group is backed by the County Council. Apart from finding information about individual studios, you will also find information about our own shows, and others that members will be attending.
Buywelsh.biz A website containing lists of produce websites in Wales
If you are traveling to Dingle in Ireland, you may like to visit a complimentary business to ours, Louis Mulcahy, and his wife also produce ceramic and woolen products in a very beautiful part of the world. But their products are also very different from ours. Look at their website to learn more.
•(The Laugharne website was the best of all local websites I have ever seen, and all the creation of one man in his spare time. Sadly it lapsed, but now, by popular demand, is being recreated. I expect great things!) Laugharne is a very special place, a unique treasure in these modern times, Georgian Houses with a Norman Church and Castle, Grand houses and ancient cottages- and of course the history of DylanThomas, Richard Hughes, and Kingsley Amis.
Of course St Clears must have a Wikipedia entry - seems correct, although I didn't know about the telescope. Glyn-Coch might have a mention in it!
The views from the castle are quite beautiful, especially if you look in the same direction as the second picture, but while standing on the top of the mound. You then seen part of the layout of the old Norman village, without the dormer bungalows!
More information about Carmarthenshire towns including St Clears can be found here.
Local council website describes the town thus: -For those who yearn for a rural lifestyle with coastal connections but remain unable to step away from modern living then St Clears is the answer. Sited between the bustling town of Carmarthen and the sleepy, seaside resorts of Pembrokeshire, St Clears offers good facilities for residents as well as warm hospitality to its many visitors.
St Mary's Church has a fascinating history, and as the Castle Church, its very thick walls were obviously intended to form part of the castle's defences. At one time it was a Cluniac Priory and was associated with a similar house in Barnstaple. This is a typical arrangement in the small coastal villages around the Bristol Channel where the relative ease of transport by sea meant that villages on opposite sides of the channel were often more closely linked then they were to their inland neighbours. This is a very friendly community branch of The Church in Wales (associated with the Anglican Church.) Services are bilingual and traditional, 'low church.'
• Our campsite is licenced by the Camping and Caravan Club which is one of the oldest of such organisations, and a little less regimented then the rival Caravan Club. It is known as 'The Friendly Club', and backs this up with an active District Association (DA) and Special Interest Group (SIG) structure. There are DAs all over the UK and they run regular informal weekend or holiday camps for local members. SIGs serve members with tents, motor or vintage caravans, lightweight campers, campers with boats, folk song and dance, etc etc.
All Seasons Camping and Leisure Ltd
New firm in St Clears. Within walking distance (1 1/2 miles). Experienced tent campers who are keen to help campers of all descriptions. They asked us for a list of things caravanners might want, so we hope for great things! They are already stockists for several well known brands. Click for more information.
For new or replacement caravans, trailer tents, ancillary equipment, service or repair try Ennis Caravans at Cross Hands. They cover most makes, and are the market leaders for Carms and Pembs.
• For a huge list of caravan related links try the following Caravanning It is mainly about selling goods or services to you, but also lists vintage caravan groups and specialist clubs and equipment suppliers. It also seems to be biased to businesses in England, but the webmasters indicate that this may change.
For general iron-mongery try Tooby and Williams. Their ironmongery department is absolutely brilliant. I can't praise it too highly! Miraculously they almost always have what you want, no matter how obscure, and they don't overcharge. You want a miracle - just ask the iron monger!
For bottled gas, plumbing, Elisa Tinsley ironmongery, pet foods, rope, batteries, all weather clothing, etc try our local Farmer's Coop, just up the hill towards Laugharne from the traffic lights in St Clears. You do not have to be a member to buy, these days they except money from anyone! (Don't we all?). (They are much more useful then the rather modest website suggests!)
For vehicle problems try Lyndon George a Land Rover Enthusiast, now allowed by Land Rover to sell new vehicles, but takes on any vehicle - even a Rolls Royce at least once. Friendly, helpful, and even better technically then the website suggests. Prices are VERY competitive.
Llety Cynin Hotel and Leisure Centre
Opened in the Spring of 2008, Llety Cynin is a unique leisure and accommodation complex set in the stunning surroundings of the Carmarthenshire countryside.This newly converted coach house has been transformed and now comprises accommodation of the highest quality, including 8 beautiful en-suite bedrooms, decorated and maintained to the highest standard.We can cater for individual guests, couples, families or group bookings. Tell us what you’re looking for and we’ll be happy to match your needs.
For business, we have the Llety
Cynin Conference Suite, available for private hire. Our facilities are able to
cater for day long meetings and team building events, and also for residential
conferences. Our aim is to make your business event even more special.
To round off our superb facilities, we have the Llety Cynin Leisure club,
comprising a 40 foot swimming pool with counter current, a spa, sauna and
state-of-the-art gymnasium.
Llety Cynin offers luxury and relaxation with facilities of the highest quality, all set in the spectacular surroundings of the West Wales countryside.
Jabajak Vineyard Restaurant with rooms offers you an affordable opportunity to stay in a small, yet perfectly formed, luxury hotel in Carmarthenshire, close to Pembrokeshire and Cardiganshire. Continually awarded four star status by Visit Wales, and featured in Johansens, Jabajak has a lavish selection of double rooms some featuring four poster beds, a Honeymoon Suite and the farmhouse suite with a luxurious bathroom suite featuring a Jacuzzi bath. As a resident you will have access to the sumptuous guest lounge too. Whether you are looking for holiday accommodation or somewhere to stay when you come to West Wales on business, Jabajak is sure to delight you.
Garden
Farm, Tufton,
Pembrokeshire, Wales
Tucked away at the end of a lane filled with wildflowers, and below the
upland beauty of the Preseli Hills, this Victorian stone farmhouse and its
ancient stone stables and granary (both cleverly converted to make the most of
glorious views) provide a delightful holiday location. Their idyllic setting is
a working sheep and beef farm in the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park,
affording easy access to lovely walking and splendid beaches for swimming and
relaxed family fun. Within 10 miles, are a wealth of sporting activities and
attractions from sailing and sea trips, to art and craft galleries and the man
made excitements of Oakwood theme park. Set on a spectacular stretch of
coastline, renowned for its abundant wildlife, the tiny cathedral city of St
David's, is also well worth a visit. There are several good restaurants locally
and the nearest pub is just ½ mile, whilst shops are 3 miles and
Haverfordwest's comprehensive facilities are only 9 miles distant.
West Wales Holiday Cottages provides high quality holiday accommodation in Pembrokeshire, Carmarthenshire and Ceredigion.
Beautiful cottages, comfortable accommodation, stunning locations, everything you need for a wonderful holiday.It is easy for you to book a holiday cottage through us: browse or search our database and book online, with no booking fee, at your leisure any time of day or night.
• The Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales is one of 47 Wildlife Trusts across the UK. They are the fourth largest in area, covering from Cardiff and Caerphilly in the east to Ceredigion and Pembrokeshire in the west, and include 3 of the West Wales islands amongst our 90 or so nature reserves.
•
The Countryside Council for Wales is the Government's statutory advisor on sustaining natural beauty, wildlife and the opportunity for outdoor enjoyment in Wales and its inshore waters. CCW champions the environment and landscapes of Wales and its coastal waters as sources of natural and cultural riches, as a foundation for economic and social activity, and as a place for leisure and learning opportunities. They aim to make the environment a valued part of everyone's life in Wales.
Rothamsted is the largest agricultural research centre in the United Kingdom and almost certainly the oldest agricultural research station in the world. Over its 160 year history, Rothamsted Research has built an enviable international reputation as a centre of excellence for science in support of sustainable land management and its environmental impact. Its scientific research ranges from studies of genetics, biochemistry, cell biology and soil processes to investigations at the ecosystem and landscape scale. The moth trap at Glyn-Coch Craft Centre is part of Rothamsted's Insect Survey, which was set up to help reduce the amount of insecticide sprayed on farms, by providing accurate information about pest outbreaks. The survey now also monitors the effect of climate change on native and invasive species, evolution, insect genetics and even string and chaos theory! (When I did my Farm Management course in the early 1970s almost every lecture included work done at Rothamsted. Later I was lucky enough to work there for 25 years and was involved with most of the plant based Agricultural Research you will ever have heard of.)
•
The National Botanic Garden of Wales, is the first national botanic garden to be created in the new millennium. In just a few years they have developed into one of the most fascinating gardens in the UK. Already it is the most visited garden in Wales, and were voted number 1 wonder of Wales by the Western Mail and are helping to conserve some of the rarest plants in the world
•The Royal Welsh Agricultural Society has played a leading role in the development of agriculture and a vibrant rural economy in Wales for over a century since its formation in 1904. Today our work includes providing support for business, social welfare and education in rural communities, and the organisation and staging of our ever-popular Society events; the Spring Festival, the Summer Show and the Winter Fair.
The Royal Agricultural Society of England's motto is ‘practice with science’. Since it was set up in 1840 the Society has aimed to support farming and the rural industries by spreading information about the best in research, development and practice. Today we still work to bring the best of British agriculture to the attention of our members and the wider rural industries through our shows, events, conferences and awards.
• Rothamsted (see also the Wildlife section above) is the largest agricultural research centre in the United Kingdom and almost certainly the oldest agricultural research station in the world. Over its 160 year history, Rothamsted Research has built an enviable international reputation as a centre of excellence for science in support of sustainable land management and its environmental impact. Its scientific research ranges from studies of genetics, biochemistry, cell biology and soil processes to investigations at the ecosystem and landscape scale. The moth trap at Glyn-Coch Craft Centre is part of Rothamsted's Insect Survey.
• The Farmers’ Union of Wales has one basic aim - to protect and advance the interests of those who derive an income from Welsh agriculture. The FUW is an independent Union which values the freedom to run its own affairs. It can advance the views of farmers in Wales without fear or favour, unfettered by sectional interests. Established in 1955, the FUW has been given the official right by the Government to represent and speak on behalf of Welsh farmers. The Union has done so at the highest level - at the National Assembly, Whitehall and Brussels.
• The National Farmers' Union champions British farming and provides professional representation and services to its farmer and grower members
• Throughout the world one breed of farm animal becomes extinct every month. The Rare Breeds Survival Trust RBST is working to make sure that this does not happen in the UK.
For one version of the Norfolk Horn story click here.
The National Sheep Association (NSA) is a specialist organisation , dedicated to safeguarding the interests and future of sheep farmers throughout the UK. Originally established in 1892, NSA has seen tremendous growth over the past 30 years in both the pedigree and commercial sectors. Today the organisation is recognised by many, including Government, as a first port of call for the provision of sound, practical views on sheep industry issues. This is equally the case in Defra, SEERAD, The Welsh Assembly and DARD.
The Agricultural Engineers Association (AEA) was established in 1875 to promote the technical, trade and commercial interests of British manufacturers and suppliers of agricultural machinery. Since then it has championed the cause of manufacturers of agricultural machinery and more recently outdoor power equipment. Today its members cover a broad spectrum of manufacturers of land based equipment from combine harvesters to secateurs and everything in between.
Agricultural Industries Confederation (AIC) is the Scheme Manager of UFAS, TASCC, FEMAS & FIAS providing assurance in the feed, food and fertiliser supply chains. The schemes were developed to help prevent major feed and food safety scares and ensure fertiliser security and also in response to consumer, industry, governments and stakeholder requirements
• The Clique was established in London in 1890 to publish specialist information for booksellers on the old, rare and secondhand booktrade in Britain. In the intervening 119 years we've expanded to offer a number of different services in other business areas:
•If you wish to search for information based on Welsh Towns try Search Wales
• If you are looking for a Welsh Search engine try Quality Welsh. It is a fairly straight search engine and finds us as 20th in a listing for St Clears, though it seem not to know the difference between St Clears and St Davids! Note that adverts are paid for, but ordinary listings are not.
• This used to be a useful directory, but rather slow WWW.250000.co.uk directory .
When I last looked, though, none of the links worked. Let me know what happens
when you try!
• Beautiful rolling hills, a superb coastline, unique flowers and gardens, gold mines, some of Britain’s best fishing, even the place where Malcolm Campbell broke three land speed records. The south west Wales’ county of Carmarthenshire has it all, a tourist’s delight! I don't need to say any more! The home page is the most interesting . General information about Carmarthen (Carmarthen on line)
• he National Welsh American Foundation promotes and shares the history and cultural heritage of Welsh-Americans; coordinates cultural and educational activities of Welsh-Americans; encourages the exchange of artists and scholars between Wales and the United States to share the Welsh language, music, and culture with the world; provides financial assistance through scholarships, fellowships and study grants; assures a unified effective voice for Welsh-Americans; and supports Welsh-American groups in their relations with corporate, philanthropic and governmental organizations. National Welsh-American Foundation
• I used to have links to local (post code) weather forecasts in this spot, but they are very rarely even remotely correct. The basic rule for predicting weather in the St Clears area is to listen to the forecast for London. If you want the weather that is forecast for this area you must go to the west side of a hill and climb up to about 500 to 1000 feet!
I have tried looking at (among others) the following postcode forecasts. Met Office, Weather Channel, BBC, and Metcheck.. None of them are reliable, and often you can get 4 types of weather forecast for the same day. When this happens one of them might be right!
To be fair they do not have the resources to forecast in this area where rapidly changing coastal weather is modified as it passes across our small hills and valleys. To do so they would need a weather observatory in every village, and a supercomputer to do the modeling in each county. Holiday makers need to remember to keep to the east side of high ground if you want dry sunny weather, and to be aware that every hundred feet you climb up, or passing to the west of high ground doubles your chance of wet weather. The good news is that every hill has its dry sheltered side!
• Dai King is a current Student in Trinity University College Carmarthen, Graduating Summer 2009. He has recently been working with a local magazine company upgrading and virus protecting their entire office and Desktop Publishing Department. He also works with a locally based events promoter on computer assisted design projects. In addition to this he is also working with a photography company as an I.T Solutions Manager. He works with families in their home to repair computers as well as providing training to prevent further problems. He provides a flexible and affordable service direct to your door when needed and he is available to contact 24 hours a day 7 days a week, and endeavor to reply to all enquiries within six hours of receiving them.
Dai is too modest to say that he recently got a mention in Resurrection, the bulletin of the British Computer Conservation Society, for knowing the 6th in a sequence of numbers after only 5 minutes thought. The problem was set as :
110, 20, 12, 11, 10, ?
Can you complete this series? If you can, e-mail us and you will get a mention here (First few names only!). Be warned though, Dai's answer was the fastest in 35 years that the editor has set this question to computer professionals! Because it is so difficult I'll give you a straight clue. The clue is that the last number (the one you are trying to find) is the same, no matter how far you extend the series!
British Computer Conservation Society Founded in 1989, the Computer Conservation Society is a joint venture between the British Computer Society, the Science Museum and the Museum of Science and Industry in Manchester. Our primary mission is to preserve historic computers, develop awareness of the history of computing, and encourage research. We run many specialised working groups, organise a public lecture series, and publish a regular bulletin.
Glyn-Coch cannot be held responsible for the content on external sites.
We welcome groups of all kinds. As with individual visits there is no entry charge, and we do not insist on prior notice, IF YOU HAVE BEEN HERE RECENTLY. However the more notice we have the more preparation we can do.
We would very strongly recommend that organisers of groups of more then 10 people contact us first. Anyone organising a group with special needs, or which include elderly people or those with any medical problems should also contact us. Indeed, we would suggest that it will be very advantageous for a group organiser to come and see the site before bringing a group here.
Sorry to sound fussy, but we have experience of disability in our family and we want to be able to offer you a perfect service. We are anxious that we can devote adequate attention to ALL our visitors to ensure that they can enjoy a visit to our 'ordinary' farm yard, where one of the buildings dates back to 1600, and original features are still apparent. Even the 'new' shop was built as a barn in about 1800, and could go back to its original use with very little adaption.
We would enjoy meeting your group, but Glyn-Coch is a 2 person business, with at times, only one of us on site. We may not be able to cater adequately for a large and unexpected group. If you give us a months' notice we can arrange for the extra help your group needs and can perhaps be prepared to offer demonstrations, or guided tours as well. (We may then have to charge to cover our extra costs, but will discuss this with you first.)
Capacities as in table below.
Facility |
Normal Capacity (Maximum) |
| Tea room | 12(20) |
| Tea Garden | Unlimited standing only. Please give notice. |
| Shop | 16(24) |
| Pottery | 6(12) |
| Display hut | Not available at present |
| Computer museum (Access difficult) | 5 |
| Woodland Walk | Unlimited |
Farm machinery (outside when on display) |
Unlimited |
| Sheep (viewed from walk)
See news section |
Unlimited |
When we have coach parties (of up to 53 people) we try to organize them into two or three groups (depending on the weather) with some in the shop, some in the tea room, and others exploring the pottery, display boards, museum areas, or woodland walk.
As there are normally only two of us at Glyn-Coch we prefer to have enough notice to bring in reinforcements but are happy to run a restricted service at short notice. If we are given longer notice we can run pottery demonstrations, or guided walks etc. As you will see from our tearoom page our menu is fairly restricted, but for larger groups it is sometimes sensible to prepare food in advance, and we can then include extra items if required.
Access to Glyn-Coch is via 500m of single track country lane, and then 500m of our drive, but we have had few complaints from drivers of 57 seat coaches, or the delivery vehicles which supply us. When we moved in we had 3 very large furniture vans parked in our yard, but while this suggests that we could cope with more then one coach we would remind tour organizers that there may not be enough room for more then about 53 people unless the weather is good enough for them to use the woodland walk. A vital telephone wire at the entrance to the yard is only 12 foot (4 metres) above the ground, but can be lifted a couple of feet to allow standard sized coached through.
Glyn-Coch is a small family run craft centre. While our resources are limited we have over 20 years experience of working with people who have special requirements. If you would like to know more, or would like to tell us about your requirements please phone us on 01994 231 867 to discuss your visit. We hope that whatever your ability you will have an enjoyable experience when you visit us. If we fail you in any way please tell us so that we can get our act together before your next visit.
Our 500m single track farm drive consists of two tarmac strips separated by mown grass. About 5000 vehicles (ranging from tiny Smart cars to 3 axle 20t 14m long HGVs and 53 seater coaches) use it every year without reporting any problems. However it does get pot holed after bad weather - so care is required. Maximum head room is 3.5m
In the summer we use a grass car park about 50m from the main attractions. Critical areas are graveled whenever necessary, though we try to maintain it as a lawn. In winter and wet weather we encourage people to drive onto the farm yard, which has a stone surface and is even closer to the main attractions.
If you have difficulty walking please attract our attention (blow your horn, or use your mobile to phone 01994 231 867) and we will ensure that you can move your car as close as necessary to the attraction you are interested in.
The toilets are between the car park and the main attractions.
We have ladies' and gents' WCs with wash basins. Narrow concrete paths approach both doors and there is no step.
At present the gents is too small for wheel chair use, but it would only be one step from the wheel chair to the WC if a helper could remove the wheelchair and close the door. There is no room inside for a helper.
The ladies, though large enough for use with a helper cannot be described as wheel chair friendly.
If people of either gender would find it easier to use the 'wrong' toilet we will ensure that this is possible.
We are trying to get grants to create a disabled toilet. Regardless of the success of our grant applications we are in the process of improving the toilets, and hope that by summer 2004 we will have a large and small unisex toilet. The larger toilet will be as accessible as we can manage on whatever funds we have.
When this job is completed it is intended that a dedicated disabled parking bay will be created between the toilets and the pottery.
Double doors allow access for most wheelchairs. About a metre inside a 10 cm step provides a hazard for solo wheelchair users, though we will help you over this. (It is planned to ramp over this.) Lighting (natural and artificial) is quite good in this building. The kiln and central heating boilers are in this building and care needs to be taken to avoid burns. (Visitors can avoid this by observing the pottery from the Art end of the building!) Asthma sufferers may be affected by fumes from the kiln, though as a sufferer myself I can reassure you that it is not usually too bad. Chairs are available to those who find standing difficult
This is on two levels separated by steep steps with a hand rail. Wheelchair users can see most parts of the shop by using outside doors (giving step-less access between the yard and shop) on both levels.
We will bring items to people who find access to them difficult. Chairs are available for those who find standing difficult. A slide show runs continuously and shows some items from the shop, and other attractions at Glyn-Coch.
Principal access is by a small door from the shop. However wheel chair access is available from the yard. The tea room has a small step in the middle. A variety of chairs and a large print menu are available.
A fairly natural lawn with a gentle slope under trees. Access is via a step from the back door of the tea room. However mowing is by a small ride on lawn mower so it is accessible to wheelchairs using the longer route!
3.5km mainly on mown grass paths. (We mow weekly during the summer.) Some parts would be very difficult for a normal wheelchair without a very fit band of helpers, though should be OK for a powered cross country machine preferably with a helper. However parts of the walk are suitable for wheelchairs. The complete walk has been enjoyed by very frail elderly people relying on two sticks - though it should be pointed out that at one point the path rises about 20m in 100m so you need to take time.
The Camp Site is gently sloping, with short grass which we mow once a week in the season. Electricity and dustbins are close to each formal pitch. One level pitch is closer to drinking water and the chemical disposal point then the others, so please tell us if you need this pitch when you book. The shop and pottery are 120yds from this pitch on grass paths.
So far we have had one young camper with an electric 'pavement type' powered wheel chair, and she appeared to enjoy driving it round the site.
The drive, car park yard and woodland walk slope gently. Outside areas have rough surfaces and buildings have steps. (We are improving these as resources become available, the current project is to improve the toilets.) However a fit determined chair user should be able to get to most areas now by using alternative routes. From time to time members of the family have had to use wheelchairs and we are determined that you will have as good an experience when you come here as anyone else.
Steps are colour contrast marked, and we are beginning to think about overhead obstacles etc. We provide a large print menu and many of our leaflets have large print versions. We understand that you will need to pick up items in the shop to examine them.
Our son has Downs Syndrome, and we have been actively involved with Mencap. Thelma's job before coming here was teaching adults with learning difficulties. We all have a basic (very basic in some cases) knowledge of Makaton and B.S.L. sign languages. We also have some experience with Alzheimer's disease.
Generally this is not a very challenging area for asthma sufferers. (We all use inhalers and are not aware of particular problems here!) However we would caution you about the pottery when the kiln is running (though we usually use it at night to keep the electricity charges down) and warn about some of the solvents used when decorating glass or china. The fields and woodland are small, and quite diverse so we do not expect massive amounts of single species of pollen, so Glyn-Coch should be low risk for hay fever sufferers as well. Local farms are mainly fairly traditional livestock farms without the large monocultures common elsewhere.
If you have a condition other then those listed above, please ring us on 01994 231 867 and tell us about it. We will tell you about any specific hazards which may affect your visit, and try to make arrangements so that you will have a useful and enjoyable visit.
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