Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Sights
Centre for
Alternative Technology
(CAT; 01654-705950;
www.cat.org.uk
;
Pantperthog; adult/child £8.50/4; 10am-5pm)
A small but dedic-
ated band of enthusiasts have spent 40 years practising sustainability at the thought-pro-
voking CAT, set in a beautiful wooded valley 3 miles north of Machynlleth.
Founded in 1974 (well ahead of its time), CAT is an education and visitor centre that
demonstrates practical solutions for sustainability. There are more than 3 hectares of dis-
plays dealing with topics such as composting, organic gardening, environmentally friendly
construction, renewable energy sources and sewage treatment and recycling. To explore
the whole site takes about two hours - take rainwear as it's primarily outdoors. Kids love
the interactive displays and adventure playground and there's a great organic wholefood
restaurant.
The visit starts with a 60m ride up the side of an old quarry in an ingenious water-bal-
anced cable car (closed in winter to save water). A drum beneath the top car fills with
stored rainwater and is then drawn down while the bottom car is hauled up. At the top you
disembark by a small lake with great views across the Dyfi Valley.
There are workshops and games for children during the main school holidays and an
extensive program of residential courses for adults throughout the year (day courses start
from around £50). A new purpose-built education centre also offers postgraduate pro-
grammes on sustainability, renewable energy and sustainable architecture. Volunteer help-
ers are welcome, but you'll need to apply.
Look out for information on a range of special events to celebrate the centre's 40th an-
niversary in 2014.
To get to the CAT from Machynlleth (seven minutes) you can take the 34 bus. Buses T2
and X27 go to the village of Pantperthog, a 10-minute walk away. Arriving by bus or bi-
cycle gets you a discount of £1. Arrive with a valid train ticket and you'll get your en-
trance ticket for half price.
ECO CENTRE
MOMA Wales
OFFLINE MAP
GALLERY
GOOGLE MAP
( 01654-703355;
www.momawales.org.uk
; Penrallt St; 10am-4pm Mon-Sat)
Housed partly in
the Tabernacle, a neoclassical former Methodist chapel (1880), the Museum of Modern
