Does anyone offer paid guided trips in abandoned mines North Wales?

[Smurf]

Hi there, I’m really interested in exploring some old mines in Wales but could really do with a guide. I really like the look of the Croesor to Rhossyd through trip but they all look amazing to me . I’ve got experience traditional rock climbing, alpine climbing etc, so I have rope skills, just could do with someone more experienced to show me the correct way to explore safely. Many thanks, Neil

 

[PeteHall]

You're probably better trying to find a local club to take you than a paid guide. I'm no expert, but I doubt anyone's professional insurance would cover then taking a paying guest through some of the stuff in there!

 

[Smurf]

Hi Pete, thanks for getting back to me. I live down in Hertfordshire so don’t really have a club local to me but I suppose I could join somewhere and join in on any trips at the weekends. Have you got any clubs in mind that do regular mine trips around North Wales? I’m not too worried about the guide running a commercial business, so I wouldn’t require insurance but was really looking for someone to take me as a ‘friend’ and compensate them for their time.

 

[Mr Mike]

Try: UCET - United Cavers Exploration Team

They are North Wales based and do loads of mines

 

[Smurf]

Cheers for that Mr Mike, I’ll have a look into joining

 

[Cantclimbtom]

Mike's advice is good
Be aware that people tend to join clubs either where they live (probably not so many in Hertfordshire ), where they work (for example if you work in central London there is a club there) or... a club in the area they want to spend time in.
So for things like CRTT, underground slate quarries and all the lead/copper/etc mines in N Wales UCET are the logical choice.

 

[Brains]

Go Below offer a variety of underground mine experiences. The guides are all independently qualified. While the offerings may be considered sanitised they can give you a good introduction, and talking to the guides or the company may lead to further opportunities and an idea of the hazards found in slate and other workings. UCET as mentioned is also a good idea

 

[paul]

The first caving club I belonged to was St Albans Caving Club which is in Hertfordshire... Sadly now defunct with remaining members joining another club. There are London based caving clubs which may be useful for you. Check out https://british-caving.org.uk/about-bca/caving-clubs/ . There may be no caves in London and the nearby area (caves in limestone anyway) but there are cavers who will meet locally and arrange trips elsewhere in the country.

And a quick Google search for London caving clubs produces:

Several caving clubs have members in or around London, including Westminster Speleological Group and Croydon Caving Club. Other clubs with a presence in the London area are Imperial College Caving Club and Chelsea Spelaeological Society. These clubs offer opportunities for caving trips, training, and social events.

 

[Stuart France]

Just join UCET

 

[mikem]

Westminster, Croydon and Chelsea all have club huts in SOUTH Wales

Other possibilities:
Greater London South Caving Club

Slough Mountaineering Group

Welcome to the SMoG website! Slough Mountaineering Group (SMoG) is a BMC* affiliated mountaineering club and a member club of the British Caving Association#. We are a group of people who like to get outdoors as much as possible... hill walking, climbing, scrambling, mountain biking, caving and

sites.google.com

Newbury & District Caving Club Trips

newburydistrictcavingclub.blogspot.com

Although their websites may not be up to date, they all are still paying subs to BCA

 

[AKuhlmann]

If you're North Wales based and want to get into it as a hobby then joining a caving club (https://british-caving.org.uk/about-bca/caving-clubs/) is a great idea. UCET (https://www.ucet.org.uk/) are fantastic! It'd also give you a good friends network and be cheaper.

If you definitely want to go down the commercial route then you need someone with the CIC with Mines qualification by the sounds of what you're asking for. Such a person will be limited in terms of the mines they can visit because they need to have been inspected for us to work in them but there are definitely places which are cool enough that you can be taken. That's not to say you won't learn loads and gain a real insight into mines hazards, underground ropework, geology, and history - because you definitely will!

To give you a few people to look at (in no particular order):
- Mark Richards (https://www.360outdoors.co.uk/adventures/)
- Sharon Rosser (https://www.lancashire.ac.uk/academics/sharon-rosser)
- Gethin Thomas (https://www.train4underground.co.uk/)
- Pete Knight (https://undergroundspecialist.co.uk/)

I think there may be a few others but unfortunately the ACI website is currently down so I cannot check this.

My personal advice would be to do both! Find a mate or two join you for a day or two with a CIC and join a club. Happy to answer any other N Wales related Qs.

If you've not been in Cwmorthin and fancy an adventure on a tourist style trip then I'd highly recommend joining Go below (https://www.go-below.co.uk/) for the ultimate Extreme trip. Full disclosure: I do work for Go Below but hopefully you will find a lot of high praise for our trips around on this forum.

Happy exploring!

Hi there, I’m really interested in exploring some old mines in Wales but could really do with a guide. I really like the look of the Croesor to Rhossyd through trip but they all look amazing to me . I’ve got experience traditional rock climbing, alpine climbing etc, so I have rope skills, just could do with someone more experienced to show me the correct way to explore safely. Many thanks, Neil

 

[caving_fox]

Depending on which bit of Herfordshire if it's NEish you might find the CCCC a useful (friendly) club. Based in Cambridge, do weekend trips to all the main caving areas, and have arranged N Wales trips from time to time. Have been a bit quiet lately but a few trips scheduled for this year. Also lots of climbing.

 

[badger]

Think the best advice above is get in contact with UCET, have to say a very good club,