Hi - I have recently visited this mine and explored the OGOF workings however I could not find the Victorian Adit, has any one been or know of the location of the Victorian Adit?
I had an explore the weekend but failed to locate it.
Thanks

As you stand facing the entrance to the Ogof
Follow the green to the right.
The entrance is in the thicker vegetation next to the golf course.

Thanks for the reply,

I went there on Saturday and walked the edge of the golf course but must have missed it - how close to OGOF do you think it is, I found what I believed to be the Winze level off a document I took which must be above it.


BR

Gary

Sorry to hijack - is Llanymynech interesting enough to warrant a 4hr round trip? Or is it just in 'the happen to be in the area' category?

Cheers,

Robin

IIRC the Victorian Level is about 150 metres north of the Ogof. If you can get hold of a copy of SCMC Account NO 14 "The Mines of Llanymynech Hill" it contains all the info you could possibly need.

Sorry to hijack - is Llanymynech interesting enough to warrant a 4hr round trip? Or is it just in 'the happen to be in the area' category? Cheers, Robin

You can spend quite a while in the Ogof seeing everything, then the Victorian level as well.
Followed by a visit into the Quarry, then down to the Hoffman kiln in the village.
A good day out for all.:thumbsup:

I remember the ogof being very crawly/squirmy.

As I recall the Victorian level has an upper section that can be climbed up into as well?

I remember the ogof being very crawly/squirmy.

As I recall the Victorian level has an upper section that can be climbed up into as well?

Yes, squirmy in places but chambers as well.
Upper workings in the Victorian level are the main part.
I do not know the current state of the shaft up, it used to be free climbable for a leader.

Ok ta. Sounds like a good one for a nice Spring Saturday then.

Cheers,

Robin

Hi Robin,

Thanks for the reply - I have a caravan at Llangynog so quite local most weekends, OGOF was quite interesting with lots of crawls and chambers to explore, I intent to go back as I may have missed something.

BR

Gary

Thank you all for your information and replies, this was my first time of using the forum, will utilise it more in the future, I will revisit and update regarding Llanymynech and maybe LLangynog/Berwyn area too.

BR

Gary

Slate workings still accessible in LLangynog.
The remains of the lead mine will be difficult to interpret without the book, which is available to download for a fee.

http://www.nmrs.org.uk/publication/the-old-mines-of-the-llangynog-district/  :thumbup:

There's also some useful info on both the mines and the railway in Wilfred Wren's 1968 book "The Tanat Valley". Long out of print but you can sometimes pick up a second hand copy.

Thanks again, we have explored most of Llangynog slate and Lead mine on Craig Rhiwarth and immediate area going further afield now hence OGOF and Berwyns towards Bala.

BR

Gary

Thank you all for your input,

Went back yesterday and found the Victorian level (SJ2657122353 according to Gridpoint), for anyone going the entrance has a gulley in front which leads to the entrance, the entrance has about a foot of water for quite a distance so wellies are essential, there is a lot of clay in there too i was glad i had gloves and overalls.

There is a small car park on the left just before the golf course entrance so both this and OGOF are just a short walk.

There are a lot of side shafts, one with a tight squeeze and there was a shaft that had poles wedged in so presumably this would join OGOF Victorian workings, i plan on going back to investigate this further.

BR
Gary

In addition to the Ogof and the victorian adit, there are workings about half a mile away at Llyncyls. Two adits worth looking in, one of them leading to a lovely little 3D maze that you should get some mileage out of. Access may be sensitive though so if you want more info PM me. With the Ogof, victorian adit and these workings (plus a look round the quarry and Hoffman kiln), you should get a reasonable day out of the area. How much time you get in the Ogof depends on how much crawling and squeezing you're willing to do... as the name implies, this is much more cave-like than your average mine and there's bits which I've never seen despite repeated visits due to the access being horribly constricted. Keep an eye for ancient human remains while you're in there. The list of burials discovered and also artefacts from various periods (including Roman) is a long and impressive one for a relatively small and off-the-radar site.

With regards the victorian adit, my understanding of it is that the workings accessed via the rise are much older than the ground level workings... possibly of an age with the Ogof. The rise should be free climable for a good climber but last time I was there (admittedly about 2 years ago) there was a rope in-situ. It's only about 15 foot though slightly awkward getting off the rope at the top.

Hi,

Thank you for the information, i have been in OGOF and explored, the crawls are not too bad but knee and elbow protection helps, i found getting to the five ways shaft the most challenging, if you go again the crawls are not difficult and it is well worth attempting them although i would not go alone.

I will revisit soon as i am sure i must have missed something, I was loaned a hand drawn map of OGOF and it will be a useful guide to other areas i may not have attempted.

I saw the rope in the shaft in the Victoria Adit high up in the shaft - i will have another look to see if i am able to climb up, do you know if this leads to the higher level in OGOF ??

I would like any information on the Tanat valley and Lynclys area

BR Gary

It doesn't connect to the Ogof, no. Well worth climbing that rise... the workings above are far more interesting than the Victorian stuff below.

Got your PM, I'll respond later.

The Winze Level is above the Ogof entrance and the Adit is to the North. I was probably me who left the rope in there to the much older higher workings of the Adit. The mines on Crickheath Hill (where I live) are gated and hold very big Bat populations. If you get into them, please DO NOT step into the water inside the entrance since my neighbour gets his drinking water out of here and it takes a long time to clear again. There are many other shafts on Llynclys Hill, one being capped by a steel boiler plate. This has a level leading off (with a swim) in the direction of the previously mentioned mines on Crickheath Hill. I'm currently digging another blocked shaft on Llynclys Hill.

Hi Adam2

Thank you for the information, I have not been to Crickheath Hill mines as I thought they were gated.

It is interesting to know you are digging out a shaft, will this lead you to new workings?

In OGOF there appears to be a level on the way in high up on the right do you know if this goes anywhere?

BR

Gary