Top ten mines in north and mid Wales

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John.Daley
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie Topic Starter

8 years ago

Hi would be intrested in people's veiws on which are the best mines in North and Mid wales to Explore. Have been down Cwmorthin and into Oakeley lots of times and think thats probably one of the best and explored quite a few others too but would be intrested in peoples veiws on this subject.

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NewStuff
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

8 years ago

That's going to be hugely subjective, and depends on the criteria of the person listing them.

Some people don't like lead mines, some don't like slate, and there's an awful lot of both in N.Wales. Some like a challenge with crawling and SRT, some like a nice amble around.

If you are more specific in what you want, I daresay we can narrow it down farther and give you some suggestions.

Searching for the ever elusive Underground Titty Bar.

DDDWH CC

RAMPAGE
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

8 years ago

Cwmorthin and Halkyn United Mines 🙂

Beneath my steely exterior beats the heart of a dashing hero

RJV
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

8 years ago

Cnicht.

And it'd be great if you could upload some photos once you've been so I can continue to admire it from a distance... :)

(ps I removed the duplicate posts to ensure that any replies are received on one thread - rv)

John.Daley
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie Topic Starter

8 years ago

Interested in big mines that can explore prefer walking but don’t mind some crawling or rope access only ever been down slate mines apart from one mineral mine in Mold enjoyed Moel-Fferna mine too but would be interested in Lead also. We have a lead mine that goes under our house so our electrician told the Mrs. haven’t seen him since as want to enquire about access he said he had to wear a mask down there though would a mask be needed in all lead mines and what sort of mask would be required. As it happens our house is in Rhosesmor not far from Halkyn United Mines do you need any clearance for Halkyn United Mines and anyone know where and how to get access to Rhosesmor Lead mine

RAMPAGE
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

8 years ago

You don't need dust masks to explore any mine in this country.

Loads of old ratty lead workings in your neck of the woods but later stff like HUM and parc is of better bore and more interesting.

Beneath my steely exterior beats the heart of a dashing hero

Paul Marvin
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

8 years ago

We find that every single one has something quite unique to offer its impossible to say which is the best we like each and every one they all have there own charm:)

"I Dont Know Where I am Going, But When I Get There I will Know Where I am"

John.Daley
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie Topic Starter

8 years ago

Had a couple more questions too if thats ok should have joined this forum years ago got a friend who is a member apparently there is a really good through trip which requires inflatable boats etc which mine is that one. There's also one in fairbourne wouldnt mind another look around went there years ago and all the stones were missing around the metal door so had to explore. be intrested also to know who owns a lot of these mines and how you stand with access rights as dont normally bother asking if its open to be fair. Also Miles any chance you could message us the code at the moment for cwmorthin thinking of going down next week some time love the new cables that have been put in.

John.Daley
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie Topic Starter

8 years ago

Sorry for all the questions just find mines really intresting love the history attached to them also love to explore the unknown and love that feeling that you get when you come back out into the world. Somewhere else have allways fancied exploring is found some old pirate tunnels in Fleetwood by Blackpool was speaking to a old man in a house by them who told us all the info he reckoned very few people knew about them keep meaning to pop up there one day with the metal detector but yet to do so

Dr J
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

8 years ago

#10

"John.Daley" wrote:
Had a couple more questions too if thats ok should have joined this forum years ago got a friend who is a member apparently there is a really good through trip which requires inflatable boats etc which mine is that one. There's also one in fairbourne wouldnt mind another look around went there years ago and all the stones were missing around the metal door so had to explore. be intrested also to know who owns a lot of these mines and how you stand with access rights as dont normally bother asking if its open to be fair. Also Miles any chance you could message us the code at the moment for cwmorthin thinking of going down next week some time love the new cables that have been put in.

Inflatable boats will be the Croesor-Rhosydd through trip (CRTT), slate mines, also involves a lot of ropework though- abseiling and traversing across BoDs..

Cwmorthin is no longer gate code, replaced by key entry year or so.. Arranged with Go Below from their offices at Conwy Falls..Miles will certainly be able to help you out on that score! :tongue:

As for answers to the first question...impossible to do so! So many different and awesome sights to try and choose from! Personally: Cwmorthin/Oakley definitely, Corris area for sure, few other places, and many, many more, that as of yet, only seen tantalising images from...particularly some big spaces directly underneath you there in Rhosesmor! :lol:

Over-ground, underground, wombling free...

rufenig
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

8 years ago

#11

To add variety
Parys mountain mine (including Mona)
Snowden Copper mine,
Gwynfynydd Gold Mine
Drws Y Coed Copper mine
Cwystwyth
Frongoch.

So many! :smartass:

John.Daley
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie Topic Starter

8 years ago

#12

Thanks guys will upload some photos when get chance to explore them

50shadesofgreen
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

8 years ago

#13

There's a mine on Cnicht? One of my favourite places to walk in that area, but not sure where that mine is.

Are these the workings low in the other valley ( not the Croesor one). On your left as you walk up from the car park.

simonrl
51% (Neutral)
Administration

8 years ago

#14

"50shadesofgreen" wrote:
There's a mine on Cnicht? One of my favourite places to walk in that area, but not sure where that mine is.

Are these the workings low in the other valley ( not the Croesor one). On your left as you walk up from the car park.

http://www.aditnow.co.uk/Mines/Cnicht-Slate-Mine_994/

my orders are to sit here and watch the world go by

Willy Eckerslyke
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

8 years ago

#15

The lower workings sound like Gelli. A modest little slate mine, but nice to visit on a summer's evening. Underground, there's just a short adit, blocked, that would have led to the open pit, and a single chamber leading off the pit. Most intriguingly, someone has left a baseball cap in a dead end fork from the adit, which has come all the way from a bar in the very depths of the Australian outback!

Cnicht mine, is a little harder to reach.
http://www.penmorfa.com/Slate/Cnicht.htm

"The true crimefighter always carries everything he needs in his utility belt, Robin"

John Mason
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

8 years ago

#16

Lots of 'em - hard to choose really. Used to like Clogau although it's over ten years since I've wandered around in there - great geological site and I don't suppose it has changed much. Bwlch Glas for the mineralogy and the trip down to the Deep Adit - and the ******* of an SRT ascent back up, especially "the bulge" with the water pouring off it when it has been wet. Take three ascendeurs and your problems disappear. Plus some of the more obscure ones Si Hughes and I have crawled around in over the years! Brynarian for example and the tantalising connection to Pensarn, visible across a stope that was so shaky neither of us wanted to drop into it and lurk around. So far as I know, nobody's done that one yet and I don't blame them!

rufenig
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

8 years ago

#17

We used to put a short wire caving ladder over the bulge at Bwlch Glas. Also on the lip of shafts.
Makes exit on SRT much simpler.
But how many carry ladders these days? :confused:

John Mason
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

8 years ago

#18

Have done the bulge on ladders and on rope alone - two jumars and a shunt for my feet have been kindest for me. Worst was first ever time using two 5mm prussik loops! Not recommended!

RJV
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

8 years ago

#19

"Willy Eckerslyke" wrote:
Cnicht mine, is a little harder to reach.
http://www.penmorfa.com/Slate/Cnicht.htm

& probably best reached by a slog up the screes from the bottom. I made a half-hearted attempt from the top when passing a few weeks back but gave it up after getting involved in an inadvertent scramble down some greasy slabs.

ant89
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

8 years ago

#20

"John.Daley" wrote:
Interested in big mines that can explore prefer walking but don’t mind some crawling or rope access only ever been down slate mines apart from one mineral mine in Mold enjoyed Moel-Fferna mine too but would be interested in Lead also. We have a lead mine that goes under our house so our electrician told the Mrs. haven’t seen him since as want to enquire about access he said he had to wear a mask down there though would a mask be needed in all lead mines and what sort of mask would be required. As it happens our house is in Rhosesmor not far from Halkyn United Mines do you need any clearance for Halkyn United Mines and anyone know where and how to get access to Rhosesmor Lead mine

if you want to go into the Halkyn united mines complex speak to your local caving club they are almost always in the Glan-yr-Afon Inn, Dolphin from 9pm Thursday 😉