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Dolgoch - Hostel in Cambrian Mountains, Wales, UK
So sorry, but we do not allow dogs anywhere on site at either hostel.
Midges might be a problem during June, July and August. Insect repellent is recommended.
20 beds in 3 rooms of 4, 6, 10 bunk beds.
There is also an ensuite room which may be booked by people with limited mobility, which sleeps either one or two people. Please contact the booking manager on dolgoch.bookings@elenydd-hostels.co.uk or by phone 01440 730226 for further details. To read the Dolgoch Access Statement, please see below.
Come and experience the peace of this unique hostel location in the secluded Tywi valley in the heart of the remote Cambrian Mountains in Wales. A stay in this 17th century farmhouse will take you into an era before electricity.
Just to be clear -there is no electricity at Dolgoch and the water supply might be limited in winter months.
Dolgoch offers comfortable, eco friendly accommodation for individuals, families and groups of up to 20. There is also ample space for campers and a good sized parking area. The historic former farmhouse has thick stone walls, a traditional Welsh slate floor and an amazing stone floored common room with a cosy wood burning stove. There is a well equipped self catering kitchen with a gas cooker and additional gas hobs but no fridge. Solar power provides hot water for the showers and wash basins for most of the year and LED lighting for the downstairs areas.
Dolgoch has a separate comfortable annexe room for a disabled visitor and her/his companion with its own wood burning stove and a large wet room. It has twin beds and also a travel cot is available. Please note that this room is not bookable by able bodied guests. For more information please ring the booking manager on 01440 730226.
The nearest food shops are in Llanwrtyd Wells which has a small Premier shop and Tregaron with a very good Spar shop and several other small shops including a post office. (Both of these villages are about 10 miles from the hostel) Eating out? Y Talbot in Tregaron is very highly regarded - barfood and restaurant. The cafe behind The Rhiannon Craft Centre in Tregaron is recommended for lunch.There are also several other places to eat in Tregaron and in Llanwrtyd Wells.
There are lots of things to do in the area. For cyclists, there are quiet, almost traffic free roads while the Lôn Las Cymru (Welsh National Cycle Route) passes nearby. Walkers will find a range of walks to suit all levels, from the gentle to the challenging. For those seeking extreme challenge, the Cambrian Way passes nearby and there are many mountain tracks to explore on foot, by mountain bike or on horseback. The hostel is well suited to bird-watching with red kites frequently seen in the skies above the hostel. The area is ideal for lovers of solitude and is close to an old drovers’ track which leads over the scenic Cambrian Mountains for 5 miles to the equally remote and simple Ty’n Cornel Hostel.
Why not stay a night at each hostel and follow in the footsteps of the drovers who for many hundreds of years drove their livestock to market along these well -trodden routes?
Concessionary rates are available to 5-17yr olds, students and people in receipt of Universal Credit.
Please enquire at dolgoch.bookings@elenydd-hostels.co.uk
Book Dolgoch Hostel
Bird watching and wildlife around the hostels
This wild and largely undisturbed part of the Cambrian mountains was where red kites just survived after numbers had declined to only about 25 adults in 1960. The dramatic story of their rescue is told in the old schoolroom at the Red Kite Centre in Tregaron. Here too the native red squirrel has managed to survive and the two hostels are right in the centre of the area where the Mid Wales Red Squirrel Project is trying to save them from extinction.
Enjoy the peace as you sit outside at Dolgoch and watch the swallows skimming low over the riverside meadows, then flying back into the barn at top speed, or on the bench at Ty'n Cornel with bright coloured siskins squabbling over seeds. You might see a weasel dancing round in mad circles at twilight or bats flying among the beech trees as you stroll down the lane. See the sun light up the russet underside of a red kite as it floats silently overhead. On a wet day in Autumn notice that the colours of bracken on the hillsides are amazingly vibrant. In late May there are whole hillsides of bluebells– a strange purply blue in the sunshine.
Bird watching: goldfinches, ravens, yellowhammers, stonechats, whinchats, wheatears, dippers, brambling, big flocks of fieldfares and redwings in Autumn, jays planting acorns, woodpeckers hammering away, ring ouzel, barn owls, hen harriers and many more. There are wildlife logs at both hostels to record what you found interesting.
Along the streamsides are patches of meadowsweet, primroses in April, orchids, whorled caraway, ivy leaved bellflower; in the boggy areas look out for beautiful carnivorous butterworts and sundew; delicate harebells and bright knapweed on the hills in August; great burnet in the meadow by Dolgoch.
In parts of the valleys are pockets of sessile oak and some wonderful ancient alders. Even a single elm tree remains hidden in the valley of a small stream. Bright red rowan berries in Autumn and in the clean air the scent of crab apple and hawthorn blossom in Spring.
The West Wales Rivers trust is trying to bring back the salmon and sea trout to the river Tywi and its tributaries, especially the Afon Doethie which flows past Ty'n Cornel. Pine martens have been re-introduced nearby and there are rumours of a beaver.
RSPB Gwenffrwd-Dinas 11 miles from Dolgoch is worth a visit – riverside walk, caves and beautiful oak woodland with bluebells in Spring and pied flycatchers, etc. Cors Caron National Nature Reserve is about 12 miles from each hostel.
Over 150 species of moths have been identified around the hostels, including Scallop Shell; Devon Carpet; Puss Moth; Anomalous; Double Line; Frosted Orange; Haworth’s Minor.
Facilities
- Sleeping: There are 20 beds in rooms, of 4, 6 and 10 beds. Bedding is provided: freshly-laundered bed linen is provided for use with the duvets and pillows. Visitors are requested not to use their own sleeping bags. The volunteer warden has separate accommodation.
- Heating: Hot water is provided for most of the year by an eco friendly solar heating system. There are two showers and the upstairs rooms have wash basins. A cosy wood burner provides the main heating in the large traditional common room.
- Cooking: The well appointed, self catering kitchen has a gas cooker with four rings, an oven and grill. There are also two, double ring gas units and an additional grill. The kitchen has plenty of crockery, cutlery, pans and utensils. A small store of non-perishable food for sale, all other food should be brought with you. The water comes from a borehole and is filtered. Safe drinking water is supplied via a UV filtered tap.
- Outside: There is a lovely sheltered south-facing terrace with picnic table and seats. Ample camping space and secure cycle storage.
- Unfortunately, due to the risk of wild fires in this remote area, we cannot allow camp fires or firepits. There is a BBQ for use on the patio.
How to find us
Arriving by Road
- From east – A483 approx. half way between Builth Wells and Llandovery, take the Abergwesyn turning at either Llanwrtyd Wells or Beulah – at Abergwesyn follow directions to Tregaron. After about 5 miles – after the steep Devil’s staircase hill, you will see the hostel sign on the left next to the bridge over the river Tywi. Hostel is almost a mile down the track.
- From south- at Llandovery follow the small road via Cllycwm and past Lyne Brianne. Past white house on right some distance after Llyn Brianne, take left turn at junction towards Tregaron. Hostel sign is on left at bottom of hill.
- From west – at Tregaron take Mountain Road towards Llanwrtyd Wells. After about 10 miles in a valley and between the Ceredigion and Powys county road signs you will see the hostel sign on your right, just bedside the bridge over the river Tywi.
Post code SY25 6NR (Sat nav is not always reliable in the Dolgoch area)
1:50000 OS map: Landranger 147
1:25000 OS map: Explorer 187
Grid reference: SN 806 562
Longtitude -3.7476
Latitude 52.1910
what3words: ///essential.shorthand.corn
Nearest Public Transport
www.traveline.cymru is a very good site for timetables etc.
- Train Llanwrtyd
- Bus Tregaron (Taxi from Tregaron - Caron Taxis 01974 298652)
For cyclists and walkers who want more interesting routes to the hostel from other stations/bus stops, enquire via CONTACT US and we will be happy to advise.
Ready to Book?
Other information
The hostel is open all year. During the summer season, March – November inclusive there is usually a warden. During the winter December-February, the hostel is open but is often not wardened. Most of the water supply is drained down to avoid frost damage in the winter months. However, a cold water supply is maintained in the kitchen during this period.
You may arrive any time during the day, but please arrive before 10.00pm. The volunteer warden is on duty from 5pm until 10 am.
When you book we will send you the access code for the door.
All bedding is provided, so please do not bring sleeping bags.
There is a land line phone but no mobile signal.
01974 298680
Dogs are not permitted, except assistance dogs.
Hostellers are responsible for looking after their own valuables and equipment.
Click the videos below to see the fantastic views from our front door!
Links
Get in Touch
Dolgoch
Address: - Dolgoch Hostel, Tregaron, Ceredigion, SY25 6NR
Booking Manager - 01440 730226
Email - dolgoch.bookings@elenydd-hostels.co.uk
Ty'n Cornel
Address: Ty'n Cornel Hostel, Llanddewi Brefi, Ceredigion, SY25 6PH
Booking Manager - 01980 629259