At the start of 2024, Natural Resources Wales (NRW) announced the intention to finish running the café and shop in their visitor centres from 31 March 2025, including Bwlch Nant-yr-Arian and in Ynyslas.
This page was updated on 04.02.25
These centres are vital to Ceredigion's economy and environment. Elin Jones MS has worked with local councillors and groups to try to persuade National Resources Wales (NRW) to keep these centres operational until a partner is appointed to take over.
As well as meeting with the NRW, Elin had the opportunity to speak at the protest organised in Nant-yr-Arian and the public meeting in Borth, and she is in regular contact with the organisations/groups interested in running the sites. It is important to Elin that there should be no cut in the services offered in Bwlch Nant-yr-Arian and Ynyslas for the sake of all visitors, from far and wide.
However, NRW have announced that retail and catering provision at the visitor centres will remain open until March 31, 2025, and will then close. Furthermore, it is only after closure that NRW will launch a public exercise to look for partners who may be interested in helping to run retail and catering services at Bwlch Nant yr Arian, Ynyslas and Coed y Brenin in the future.
All paths, trails, car park, play area and toilet facilities will remain open at the sites.
Elsie Grace, NRW’s Head of Sustainable Commercial Development, said: “We understand how important our sites are to local communities and visitors and we know the decision to stop providing catering and retail services is disappointing to many people.
“Our board made the decision in response to the extremely tight funding situation we and other public bodies face.
“We will look for partners, both community groups and businesses, to register an interest in providing these services moving forward and will provide more information on how to submit expressions of interest ahead of the launch of any tender exercise."
There is more information, as well as frequently asked questions on the NRW website here.
In due course NRW will use the Sell2Wales website and those interested can register on the platform in advance of any process starting.
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