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Foto: Centre for Alternative Technology Media Department (Tobi Kellner at English Wikipedia) · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons

Centre for Alternative Technology

Eco-centre in a former slate quarry near Machynlleth with sustainable-living displays; currently open only for pre-booked groups, courses and events.

Midlertidigt lukket Delvis tilgængelig Café

Hjemmeside Rute

Centre for Alternative TechnologyMidlertidigt lukket

Hjemmeside

Midlertidigt lukket. Closed to walk-in day visitors since November 2023. The site is open only for pre-booked courses, events, group visits, bed and breakfast guests and students. The centre says it will reopen to day visitors once funding is secured.

Om museet

The Centre for Alternative Technology was founded in November 1973 by Gerard Morgan-Grenville on the site of a disused slate quarry at Llwyngwern, near Machynlleth in mid Wales. It started as a small community testing ways of living with less impact on the environment and opened to visitors in 1975.

Over the years the site gained a water-balanced cliff railway, displays on renewable energy and a low-energy house. A community-funded wind turbine followed in 2004, and in 2010 the Wales Institute for Sustainable Education (WISE) building opened as a showcase of sustainable construction; it won a RIBA award in 2011. CAT also runs a Graduate School of the Environment with postgraduate courses.

CAT is a registered charity. In November 2023 it stopped admitting walk-in day visitors, citing rising running costs, lower visitor numbers and delays to funding, and it has said it will reopen to day visitors once funding is secured. At present the site is used for courses, events, group and school visits and students.

Højdepunkter

Water-balanced cliff railway up the former quarry face
Displays on renewable energy and low-energy building on a 24-acre site
WISE building, a RIBA award winner for sustainable architecture
Fully vegetarian café with vegan options

Grundlagt: 1973
Ejer: Centre for Alternative Technology (registered charity)

Entrépriser & rabatter

The centre is currently closed to day visitors and has not announced a reopening date.

Tilgængelighed

Delvis kørestolsvenlig
Elevator: ingen oplysninger
Handicaptoilet
Handicapparkering
Servicehunde tilladt: ingen oplysninger
Taktile tilbud: ingen oplysninger
Rundvisninger på tegnsprog: ingen oplysninger
Letlæste tilbud: ingen oplysninger
Synstolkning: ingen oplysninger

Information given for pre-booked group visits. Disabled parking is at the top of the drive by the bottom station building and can be reserved through the groups coordinator. The woodland walk and the drive are steep; most paths are compacted aggregate and mostly level, but wheelchair users may need help, especially in bad weather. Buildings have ramped or level access with wide doors and corridors. Accessible toilets are at the bottom car park reception building and at the top of the cliff railway. A free electric mobility scooter and a wheelchair can be borrowed if requested well in advance.

Børn og familie

The centre is currently closed to day visitors and has not announced a reopening date.

Transport & parkering

Med offentlig transport

Pantperthog

The nearest railway station is Machynlleth (Transport for Wales, Birmingham to Aberystwyth line), about three miles away. Buses T2 and fflecsi (stop Dyffryn Dulas) and the Bangor to Aberystwyth bus (stop Pantperthog) serve the area.

I bil

Gratis parkering

Free parking for cars and coaches on site. Bike sheds with locks are in the bottom car park, and there is a public electric vehicle charger (Type 2) at the top of South Drive.

Handicapparkering

About three miles north of Machynlleth on the A487 towards Dolgellau, signposted from the main road. Sustrans route 8 links Machynlleth station with the site: about an hour on foot, less than half an hour by bike.

Planlæg rute

Service & spisesteder

Café
Garderobe
Wi-fi

Fully vegetarian café with vegan options as standard; all food must be pre-booked. Free Wi-Fi, cloakrooms and a bar are listed among the site facilities for group visits.

Arrangementer & udlejning

Lokaler til leje

Classrooms, a lecture hall with built-in audio-visual equipment, reception space and a bar. Overnight stays are possible in the 24-bedroom WISE building and in eco-cabins.

Forespørgsel & detaljer

Planlæg dit besøg

Rundvisninger	ja
Tilbud til skoler	ja
Godt at vide	Group visits must be booked in advance through the enquiry form or by email to the education team. Options include workshops, talks and guided tours for school, college, university, community and corporate groups; exploring the visitor centre is available as part of a group package.