AIf you’d seen the old Llwyngwern slate quarry in the early 1970s, you’d never imagine it becoming one of Wales’ most inspiring eco destinations. Empty, neglected, and forgotten—until environmental pioneer Gerard Morgan-Grenvillearrived with a group of visionary volunteers in 1973. Their mission? Transform an unwanted quarry into a living experiment in sustainability.
Some called it a hippy dream.
Today, it’s a world-renowned Centre for Alternative Technology.
As a Wales Blue Badge Tourist Guide, CAT is one of the places that genuinely excites visitors. The experience begins with the famous water-powered cliff railway, gliding up the hillside using just gravity and water—a perfect introduction to renewable energy in action.
At the top, you step straight into a landscape where nature, innovation and low-impact design come together seamlessly.
CAT is bursting with inspiring examples of sustainable living and eco-friendly architecture, including:
For anyone interested in renewable energy in Wales or eco-friendly tourism, this place is a treasure.
Visitors don’t just look at sustainability—they experience it.
At CAT you can:
This practical, interactive approach is a huge hit with families, students, and curious travellers.
One of CAT’s newest and most engaging features is its immersive Living Earth Tunnel.
It takes you on a journey beneath the soil—through rock layers, roots, fungi, and the hidden life that keeps our planet thriving.
It’s fun, visual and surprisingly calming. A brilliant way to understand our place in the natural world.
CAT’s impressive rammed-earth theatre—the largest of its kind in the world—is always a “wow” moment. Its sculptural, earth-packed walls demonstrate how natural building techniques can be strong, stylish and beautifully low-impact.
The vegetarian café is a highlight in itself. Using seasonal, local produce, it proves that sustainable tourism can be delicious too.
Every time we descend on the cliff railway, I hear the same thing:
“I feel hopeful again.”
From an unwanted quarry to a global centre for sustainability education, CAT shows what’s possible when creativity and environmental care come together.
If you’re exploring Machynlleth, mid Wales or the UNESCO-designated Dyfi Biosphere, CAT is a must-visit.
