Llechwedd Slate Cavers , Blaenau Ffestiniog , Gwynedd LL41 3NB
In 1830 Blaenau Ffestiniog was a Welsh phrase describing the cliffs towering above a narrow shelf of farmland about 2½ miles north of the old village of Ffestiniog. Slate changed the face of the area forever and now mountains of discarded inferior slate tower over Blaenau Ffestiniog village. Although slate is still worked in the area the once world famous Llechwedd slate caverns now are for visitors and it makes a great family day out. Slate Heritage International gives a choice of two spectacular rides into the vast underground caverns.
The Miners' Underground Tramway, takes you through a network of enormous caverns of cathedral proportions, supplemented with tableaux. You experience the working conditions of the Victorian miner and discover how millions of tons of rock were moved using simple tools, gunpowder and muscle. You alight at various points to learn about the skills needed to extract the slate.
With the Deep Mine tour you descend on Britain's steepest passenger railway, in specially made 24 seat car, with a gradient of 1:1.8! There is then around 25 minutes walk through ten chambers, with sound and light effects where the ghost of a Victorian miner unfolds the social life of a community which roofed Europe's industrial revolution.
On the surface you wander through the Victorian village, where pubs and shops used re-minted Victorian coins. There is an 'old bank', smithy, lock up, the home of the blind harpist of Merionydd and historic narrow gauge railway wagons.
The Miners' Underground Tramway, takes you through a network of enormous caverns of cathedral proportions, supplemented with tableaux. You experience the working conditions of the Victorian miner and discover how millions of tons of rock were moved using simple tools, gunpowder and muscle. You alight at various points to learn about the skills needed to extract the slate.
With the Deep Mine tour you descend on Britain's steepest passenger railway, in specially made 24 seat car, with a gradient of 1:1.8! There is then around 25 minutes walk through ten chambers, with sound and light effects where the ghost of a Victorian miner unfolds the social life of a community which roofed Europe's industrial revolution.
On the surface you wander through the Victorian village, where pubs and shops used re-minted Victorian coins. There is an 'old bank', smithy, lock up, the home of the blind harpist of Merionydd and historic narrow gauge railway wagons.
