• Win a Rab Nexus Pull-On with the 1st of the Inglesport Fabulous 5 competitions!

    Caption competition, closes Friday 25th April

    Click here to enter

N. wales mines

Fulk

Well-known member
Miranda and I are planning a weekend in N. Wales in the near future, when we plan to go walking. However, it occurs to me that a ?Plan B? might be in order in the (extremely unlikely!!) event of inclement weather, and we?re wondering about mine exploration as our Plan B. We?ve both done a lot of caving and regard ourselves as competent cavers, but we?ve only really dabbled in mine exploration, so we?re wondering whether anyone could recommend any trips in N. Wesh mines as a wet-weather option?
 
Rhosydd is good for a wander around. The snag is it's still a mile or so from the car-park, and thus any inclement weather is not going to help.

Chris.
 
At the time you posted your original message I was walking along and out the exit (no 4 adit) of Rhosydd ;) Definitely wellies not walking boots.

It's a great bad weather option. However as ChrisJC mentions it is a walk to get there which yesterday was a bit sheltered from the wind, but in a different wind direction it could be the reverse!

Speaking to UCET is the best possible suggestion as they're local experts and seeing the work they do (e.g. CRTT) I continue to be astonished and grateful at just how generous and helpful they are

Edit: I probably should recommend CRTT, as others probably will, since you mentioned being experienced cavers. After a canoe stuck incident I would say only go if you are prepared to swim a chamber (worst case), take own rope, and have experience to ascend rope and deal with the unexpected, then that's always a brilliant trip
 
Bwlch y Plwm would be the obvious wet weather option. 1 minute from car to adit. The bottom adit is reasonably long, and a couple of cowstails will get you up via fixed rope to the middle adit. The through trip from the top would require SRT, but you could hapilly pass an hour or two without doing that.

Also worth a prod nearby is Pant y Wrach.

Robin
 
Any of the slate mines in Blaenau Ffestiniog are good (Cwmorthin if you get the key, Rhosydd if you do the walk up, Wrysgan if you are ok with a less than massive mine)

Parc Mine in Betws Y Coed is open (under CAL) and is easy and extensive.

Bwlch y Plwm (already mentoned)

Poacher?s cave if you are near Mold

There are loads on the UCET Forum knowledge bank here;

http://www.ucet.org.uk/index.php?option=com_kunena&view=category&catid=21&Itemid=191

We are having problems with the forum at the moment, sorry :(

List of easy access stuff on the CAL site here;

http://www.caveaccess.co.uk/

If I can help further, drop me a message here (or email secretary@ucet.org.uk) and we?ll sort you out.

:)

Ian Adams
 
I (and Tom) did consider suggesting Parc, but it's a bit hairy if you are a caver with no experience of somewhere like that.

The holes in the floor, covered with rotting timber, and a 50m drop below, do require a bit of caution.

Chris.
 
The current condition of parc I would suggest caution especially on level 2 , at the first T junction clip in cow tails  the floor looks solid it?s cement and straw,  as Chris has stated it?s a 50m drop into the stopes of level 3 then a big slide , for your first mine possibly not the best place in my honest opinion , definitely message Dave Tyson for any current updates as the hand lines go missing we did take some hardwood wooden platforms up and left in some of the areas of caution  ,  my advice if you go stick to the footwall .
 
Fulk said:
Miranda and I are planning a weekend in N. Wales in the near future, when we plan to go walking. However, it occurs to me that a ?Plan B? might be in order in the (extremely unlikely!!) event of inclement weather, and we?re wondering about mine exploration as our Plan B. We?ve both done a lot of caving and regard ourselves as competent cavers, but we?ve only really dabbled in mine exploration, so we?re wondering whether anyone could recommend any trips in N. Wesh mines as a wet-weather option?

No brainer Maenofferen is the dogs doodahs
 
Tomferry said:
.. we did take some hardwood wooden platforms up and left in some of the areas of caution...
was admiring the platforms earlier today, and the amazingly good condition safety line at the junction. Thanks Tom, Chris, others. Appreciate your hard work!!
 
alex17595 said:
If your doing Parc, Cae Coch Sulphur mine is only a few miles up the road. Just don't fall in the acid pools

Please don't go to this mine during the winter months because it is a very significant site for hiberbating bats.  The CAL access agreement with NRW here is for the summer only please.
 
Back
Top