In its heyday Rhondda’s coal was as important as the oil produced by the Middle East today. This Welsh Valley helped to power the world, and the character and culture of the Rhondda is brought to life in the 'Black Gold' story through exciting multi media displays set in three restored colliery buildings.

Accompanied by your ex-miner guide, your tour takes you to in the Bertie Winding House. This multi media exhibition takes you back in time to the start of mining in the Rhondda Valleys and tells the history of Lewis Merthyr Colliery, the Tynewydd mining disaster and of important figures in South Wales coal mining history.

The Lamp Room will prepare you for a shift in the safest pit in South Wales and here you will discover the importance of safety lamps before collecting your mining helmets and descending - just like a working miner - in the 'cage' to 'pit bottom' where your underground experience begins.

Once underground you will soon appreciate what life was like as a coalminer.

You can touch the machinery, hear the effects as explosives are detonated, smell and even taste the changing atmospheric conditions and humidity of life underground.

As an exciting end to your tour you will be transported back to the surface on an amazing simulated ride where you are hurtled and catapulted through the dark and twisting tunnels.

Your tour continues with a visit to the Fan House. This multi media exhibition portrays the role of women in the community and the cultural and social heritage of the Valleys is vividly brought to life. It traces history to the end of mining in the Rhondda Valleys.

Finally don’t miss the Trevor Winding House. This multi media exhibition transports you back in time to 1958 where you join your narrator Bryn Rees in the middle of a working shift.  See the huge winding engine turning during the show.

Information :

Guided Tours

Please be aware you will as part of your tour experience uneven ground, strobe lighting effects and a simulated ride, which is not recommended for pregnant women or those with back problems or heart complaints.

Warm clothing and sensible footwear advised.

Please allow at least 1½ hours for the underground tour

Simulated Ride – Height restrictions

Following recent advice from Health and Safety inspectors, we have found it necessary to introduce a height restriction on the Simulated Ride at the end of the Underground Experience.
The restriction is that persons under 1.1 metres may not ride.
Children between 1.1 metres and 1.2 metres must be accompanied by an adult