The Area

 

OLD MILL FARMHOUSE is an ideal base from which to discover the many and varied attractions of the area. Travel around and admire stunning views of mountains, lakes, rivers and forests. Play with the children on one of the safe, sandy beaches. Take a pleasant walk through the Coed y Brenin forest to the interesting site of the old Gwynfynydd gold mine and two impressive water falls. None of it is very far away:

A 5 minute drive will take you to COED Y BRENIN FOREST visitor and mountain bike centre.

 

Castles in the area:

  • Harlech
  • Dolwyddelen
  • Caernarfon
  • Conwy
  • Penrhyn
  • Beaumaris

Steam trains:

  • Ffestiniog Railway
  • Welsh Highland Railway
  • Welsh Highland Heritage Railway
  • Fairbourne Railway
  • Talyllyn Railway
  • Snowdon Summit
  • Bala Lake Railway
  • Corris Railway

 Zoos and aquariums:

  • Colwyn Bay Welsh Mountain zoo
  • Rhyl Sea World
  • Anglesey Sea Zoo

 

Adventure centres:

  • White water rafting centre (Bala)
  • Tree Top Adventure
  • Surf Snowdonia
  • Corris Mine Explorers
  • Zip World
  • Bounce Below

Activities:

  • Centre for Alternative Technology
  • Snowdonia Riding Stables
  • Caernarfon airport pleasure flights
  • Greenwood Forest Park
  • Glasfryn Parc
  • Shell Island
  • Rabbit Farm & Animal Park
  • Royal St David golf course
  • Fishing (Trawsfynydd lake)
  • Sea fishing (Barmouth)
  • RSPB Osprey Centre

Mines & Museums:

  • Llechwedd (Blaenau Ffestiniog)
  • King Arthur’s Labyrinth (Corris)
  • Llanfair Slate Caverns
  • Inigo Jones Slateworks
  • Llanberis Slate Museum of Wales
  • Sygun Copper Mine

 

The Trains

Seven of the Little Trains of Wales are easily accessible from Fron Oleu, including one to take you to the summit of Snowdon.

The Ffestiniog Railway, with its unmistakable ‘Double Fairlie’ engine, is only ten minutes drive away from us. The Welsh Highland Railway runs from Caernarfon, through the spectacular Aberglaslyn Pass, to Porthmadog, to join up with the Ffestiniog Railway.

 

Portmeirion

The famous Italianate village of Portmeirion, where ‘The Prisoner’ was filmed, is only twenty minutes from here.

 

Activities

Nearby sporting activities include golf, swimming, sailing, wind-surfing, climbing, walking, pony-trekking, birdwatching, mountain biking, white water rafting, fishing and high ropes adventure centres, all set against the spectacular backdrop of the natural beauty of the Snowdonia National Park.

 

Walkers and Cyclists

For serious WALKERS, we are situated close to the foot of the RHINOG mountains. The CADER range and SNOWDON are all within easy reach.

For the less ambitious, there are many pleasant WALKS, such as those around the TRAWSFYNYDD LAKE or through the COED Y BRENIN forest. The TORRENT WALK and the PRECIPICE walks at Dolgellau are well worth the effort and there are many oak woods nearby which provide excellent shorter walks.

For mountain bike enthusiasts, the new Trawsfynydd lake BIKE AND FAMILY WALKING TRAIL passes alongside the farm and we are close to the famous Coed y Brenin FOREST TRAILS. We have lockable storage for bikes and can provide black plastic bags and newspaper for the wet and muddy who return after risking life and limb on some of the tougher trails!

 

Local Events

Sheep shearing competitions, village carnivals, sheep dog trials and Welsh Choral Evenings all offer the opportunity to mix with local people and hear the Welsh language.