Various independent businesses and other rural activities thrive at Bodnant. A selection of some of them is given on this page.

Agricultural activities

There are a number of farms on the Bodnant Estate. Most of the farming is sheep, with some dairy and beef cattle. Apart from the production of meat, milk and wool, pedigree animals are bred for sale as stock.

For instance, amongst the farms with fine pedigree herds is Llwydfaen Farm, which is home to the following pedigree herds:

	The ERYRI herd of Pedigree Holsteins, Champion Pedigree Herd of Wales 2003. Embryos are available from the cows in the herd.
	The ERYRI herd of Pedigree Texels, Champion Small Flock North Wales 2003, MV accredited and scrapie monitored. The flock has obtained impressive Show results. The stock for sale comprises some ram lambs plus some females.

For further details, contact Wyn Owen, Llwydfaen Farm, Tal-y-Cafn, Colwyn Bay LL28 5RU, tel. (home) 01492 650652, (mobile) 07742 143583.

Bee-keeping and honey-making The Conwy Beekeepers’ Association have the use of a disused quarry near the Tal-y-Cafn Bridge as a training apiary for new beekeepers. Bee-keeping classes are held there regularly, and the sheltered site is ideal for teaching beekeeping. It is very sheltered, making the bees calm and easy to handle. For more information on the Conwy Beekeepers’ Association, telephone Peter McFadden 01492 650851 or e-mail him on peter@honeyfair.freeserve.co.uk, or visit their website on www.conwybeekeepers.org. Other individual beekeepers are permitted by agreement to place their hives on other designated sites on the Estate.

Crafts

14 independent craft studios have been created within the Bodnant Plant, Gift and Craft Centre. The tenants of those craft studios produce and sell a wide range of crafts. For more details about the sale of crafts, please see the Bodnant Plant, Gift and Craft Centre page.

Kennels

Boarding and training kennels have been established on one of the Estate farms. Fully licensed, the kennels are sited in two modern purpose-built buildings. For further details, contact Aled Jones, Tal-y-Cafn Kennels, Meddiant Isa Farm, Tal-y-Cafn, Colwyn Bay LL28 5RY, tel. 01492 650929.

Lunches and teas

The Bodnant Pavilion (operated by the National Trust) offers refreshments and light meals from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. between about mid-March and October. For more details about the Bodnant Pavilion, please see the Bodnant Garden page.

Plants and gifts

The Bodnant Plant, Gift and Craft Centre sells a wide range of unusual plants and gifts. It is owned by Bodnant Garden Nursery Ltd. For more details about the plants and gifts for sale, please see the Bodnant Plant, Gift and Craft Centre page.

Sustainability projects

The Conwy Energy Agency rents the ground floor of the Bodnant Sawmill.  The Agency aims to support renewable energy and energy efficiency projects in private, public, community and business areas.  Specifically, in managing, delivering and developing various projects, it aims to support local action to minimise CO2 emissions and other environmental pollution in a way that maximises local environmental, employment and economic benefits.  For more details, contact David Williams by telephone on 01492 651005; mobile on 07989 014757; fax on 01492 651097; e-mail on david@conwyenergyagency.co.uk; or visit the Agency’s website on www.conwyenergyagency.co.uk.

Woodland products

Various woodland products, such as firewood and wood for wood-turning, are for sale from Simon Plummer at the Rookery. For more details, see the Timber, Christmas trees and other Woodland Products page.