This is probably old news to most, since the business has been up and running for some time, but for various reasons we'd been asked to hold back on making an announcement.

On a visit to Braich Goch a little over a year ago we found a steel gate across the adit. It was soon apparent something was happening, and rumours of a show mine soon appeared, to complement King Arthur's Labyrinth (which occupies the lower level of the working).

Skip forward to this summer and Vanoord and I were invited to Braich Goch to see what they had been up to and for a tour of the mine.

First and foremost, this is an operation run by a man who, if you cut him in half would have "I am a mine explorer" written through him. Mark Waite is hugely knowledgeable and enthusiastic, and is the driving force behind what has become Corris Mine Explorers.

A massive amount of work has been undertaken to get the mine passed by the relevant authorities (and this really does cost) and most recently get AALA certification. However this is no sanitised show mine with gravel floors and electric lights. It really is an authentic experience.

A trip round Braich Goch with Corris Mine Explorers will give people (max group size 10) a genuine feel for the mine, a real insight into the Welsh slate industry, and the opportunity to learn the history of the mine. And quite probably the desire to explore many more mines...

OK, paid mine trips are not what the experienced mine explorer wants, but this is a genuine mine exploration experience and I firmly believe it has its place, and wish them every luck with the business.

A full trip report is here: http://www.aditnow.co.uk/documents/Braich-goch-Slate-Mine/Braich-Goch-Trip.pdf   (report by Vanoord)

Web site for Corris Mine Explorers is here: http://www.corrismineexplorers.co.uk/  (the eagle eyed will have spotted the banner advert link on the right hand side of AditNow pages as well!)

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A very professional website (of course!).

And having had a look around the tour myself, I can vouch for the quality of the trip. Plenty of interest to see.

The only drawback is that it means that Mark is sometimes too busy with CME to come out with us!

Chris.

A nice write-up of the Corris Mine Explorers underground trip is now on their web site, courtesy of Mike Parker (co-author, Rough Guide to Wales)

http://www.corrismineexplorers.co.uk/review-mike-parker-rough-guide-to-wales/ 

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Good to see CME getting a good write-up :thumbup:

The King has done a massive amount of work in there, it's an epic endeavour that deserves a lot of good publicity!

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A rather good video has appeared on YouTube about Corris Mine Explorers...

[youtube]6ZBpWG3kPpM[/youtube]

Or direct link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ZBpWG3kPpM 

Gives a good idea of the trips :thumbsup:

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I met Mark at Nahmo this year when we were in the same digs and I agree what an enthusiastict guy and what foresite.

From a mine explorer point of view I am sad that it is now all commercialised. I remember some 25 years ago staying at Corris Youth Hostel with the SCMC members the warden at the time had a peverse sense of humour if any hostellers peed him off he he put them in the same room as us do to our Premier League snoring due to beer consumtion at the local.

In those days we centred on Ratgoed and the Quarries down the road. This was pre Alan Richards Gazeteer and we were very much breaking new ground for ourselves. We were sat outside the hostel waiting for the pub to open and I noted the the workings on the hill opposite hostel and persauded Steve H to miss the pub and discreetley entered the level by the craft centre (now King Arthurs Labrynth) needless to say we spent hours and several weekends exploring all of the adits all the way down fron Upper Corris.

In those days was as left by the quarry workers and including various dets and weeping sticks bang.

Mike

It does present an interesting dichotomy:
On the one hand, Braich Goch is off-limits to casual explorers, but on the other hand a large volume of people are being introduced to the habit. Mark does advertise the fact that CME is the tip of the mine-exploring iceberg, and that one can go further with clubs / societies etc.

So overall, in my opinion, it's a good thing for mine explorers, albeit at a small cost.

Chris.

I think Mark pitches these trips perfectly. Braich Goch has always been off limits, because of King Arthur's Labyrinth so Corris Mine Explorers hasn't actually cost us a mine. His trips are pretty tailored but what does come across is his enthusiasm for the subject matter and knowledge. it's not pitched as an adventure as such, and anybody who is even half inclined to get interested is going to come away with a head full of ideas 🙂

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Speaking as someone with a proffesional interest in mining heritage driven tourism; for my money what Mark is doing at BG has got to be the best commercial mine tourism experience in the U.K

I think Mark pitches these trips perfectly. Braich Goch has always been off limits, because of King Arthur's Labyrinth so Corris Mine Explorers hasn't actually cost us a mine. His trips are pretty tailored but what does come across is his enthusiasm for the subject matter and knowledge. it's not pitched as an adventure as such, and anybody who is even half inclined to get interested is going to come away with a head full of ideas :)

To quote Braich Goch hasn't always been off limits as enjoyed plenty of time their pre King Arthur and I'm not critical in any way of Mark its just 20 years ago its was a great playground

Mike