Dolgoch

Dolgoch in the Cambrian Mountains sits between better-known neighbours, the Snowdonia and Brecon Beacons National Parks. It can can go unnoticed, but that’s part of its charm. It could have also been very different. In 1965, a proposal was put forward to designate the Cambrian Mountains as a National Park. Unsuccessful in the attempt, 50 years later, the area remains largely unspoilt by the traffic that more popular parts of the country experience. This makes perfect riding conditions, with a wandering sheep more likely to cause you to brake than oncoming traffic. Now a hostel, Dolgoch was built in the 17th Century as a farmhouse and still sits untouched with very little light pollution, giving guests a glimpse into what life must have been like in the area for the last couple of hundred years. Dark skies at night, fresh air and silence.

Sustainability Notes:

We can't claim that Dolgoch is a sustainable film.

Dolgoch itself (the hostel) has a relatively small footprint. It is off grid with no electricity, signal or hot water. There is next to no light pollution in this part of the world and it is an incredible spot to reconnect with nature, observe the night sky, spot wildlife and enjoy being outdoors. We do not claim as film makers to have played a part in contributing to this though, we were just there to enjoy it ourselves and tell a story about our favourite place on earth.

Impact assessment:

Electricity usage: the film was made off grid at Dolgoch, and in the surrounding area of the Cambrian Mountains. This naturally reduced the footprint of the production as there was no electricity.

Travel emissions: the full team involved (riders, director, etc) travelled in one vehicle together to make the film. Everyone stayed at Dolgoch for a week.

Water consumption: a few of the team involved 'showered' in the river by the house, as there wasn't an abundance of hot water (solar panelled). One person managed to not shower for the whole week which was unnecessary.