Swansea, The National Showcaves Centre for Wales

There are three main caves to choose from however one is certainly not suitable if you have any problems walking. The bone cave which is accessible through a small tunnel in which you have to wear a hard hat is barely a cave.

Yes there are plenty of tacky models (what is with the scary light up bear?) to see but the caves are wonderful. Just a quick tip you really don't need to bring the emergency light around with you, the caves themselves are lit up.

The petting zoo is amazing ... if you like petrified animals I would advise not visiting it. I have never seen a more depressed goat!

The National Showcaves Centre for Wales is expensive to get in and the caves have been completely spoilt by the addition of a huge amount of unnatural features - steps, brick walls, too many unnecessary railings and figures that they havent even tried to make look realistic.

On a wet day in Brecon we headed to the National Show Caves and we nearly missed them! The Brown tourist sign names the caves and not the attraction.

Once we had arrived, we found the car park was not well laid out, and it was difficult to decide where we could park due to the lack of parking bays. Still, we found a helpful man who sorted us out. As we walked from the car park, a life sized Brachisaurus stares at you through the trees.

To gain entrance, you queue up and pay £10 per adult to get in. The entrance gate was a rotary barrier, and there was an electric gate alongside for buggies etc.

We headed oft to the first cave, which had a notice saying buggies were not permitted inside due to steps, yet during the visit to this cave, you could easily take a buggy/wheelchair part the way in. On the way to the second cave you walk up a very steep slope to the entrance of the dinosaur lake, and then an even steeper slope to the show cave. This is the most spectacular cave on the site, complete with 2 waterfalls and water seeping out of the cave side at one point. For those that want, you can get married in this cave! The final cave was a bit disappointing. It is a reasonable steep walk, part of which those over 5ft need to duck heads, as there is a steel roof to protect the path from rock fall. The cave contains models of who might have lived in the cave and the archaeologists. Coming back you get wonderful views of the dinosaur lake, and if it is good weather, the view.

There are dinosaurs everywhere; T Rex, Sabre Tooth Tiger and Mammoth. They are all life size models and painted in some strange colours.

The restaurant on-site is extremely expensive! We had a cheese baked potato, 2 rounds of sandwiches, 4 muffin style cakes, and 2 hot and 2 cold drinks, and it came to £19.14. They charge £2 to add cheese to a potato! The restaurant can be accessed by buggies and wheelchairs, and there are toilets there.

Opposite the restaurant is the 1st floor shop. If you love dinosaurs then this is for you.

To sum up. It is a wonderful place for dinosaur fans, and those looking to do a little caving under safe conditions. The entrance charge is high and the food is expensive in the restaurant. If you arrive late you may have to walk up a steep hill to get to the entrance.