Three days of mine exploration based at the North London Mountaineering Club guest barn in Capel Curig. Two lead mines and a gold mine were visited, featuring a mix of SRT, ladderways, artefacts and colourful formations.
The weekend started with an early evening trip to the small but fascinating Hafna Lead Mine in the Gwydir Forest. The adit enters the mine at Floor 3 at the base of a wet stope, and continues over a traverse to the base of an old ladderway. However, the route to Floor 2 is via a pre-rigged prussik. This was ascended and explored before descending to the levels below. The two pitches were rigged for SRT and everyone was impressed to find an old mine truck and a wooden wheelbarrow by the head of a rather unusual descent of the final chasm which started down a ramp of wooden poles. With no further way on from that part of the lower level, it was time to return to the surface and the warmth of the log burner at the climbing hut for dinner and drinks.
Saturday saw a visit to Gywnfynydd Gold Mine in Coed y Brenin, a fantastic network of mostly dry levels and a veritable feast for the eyes, with all manner of mine workings, coloured formations and interesting sights including snottites. The entrance level was fully explored through a medley of older workings before a metal ladderway was descended to the more modern levels below with a host of derelict machinery, pipes, miners’ paraphernalia and a room containing two bathtubs (used for mixing explosives) and a safe. However, this man-made labyrinth has also spawned an array of natural marvels, with flowstone formations of vivid blues and greens and pools of bright red, fed from the mineral-laden waters. Other levels were accessed by wooden ladderways, each providing more sights of wonder. Finally, a long wade through a canal of bright orange soup-like water met with an unexpected grotto absolutely full of rust coloured stalagmites, stalactites, straws and columns. The full-day of exploration was rounded off with a welcome Thai meal and drinks in a pub on the way back.
It was back to the Gwydir Forest for Sunday’s trip to Parc Mine, the largest lead mine in the area. This was a through-trip, but first a detour was made to Llanrwst Mine, accessed from Level 2 of Parc Mine via a wooden ladderway. Beyond, a particularly muddy SRT ascent leads to a network of much older workings above. Then it was back through Parc Mine, with its many remaining artefacts including rails, ore chutes, pipes and the occasional ore truck, to the ladders and SRT descent through an ore chute to Level 3. With time in hand, a detour was made to visit an area with numerous workings which have since become decorated with attractive formations. Then it was time to head out via a small wet hole disgorging into a pool in a small quarry, followed by a walk back through the forest.
Photos from the Weekend
Photos by Matt Voysey, Mandy Voysey, Alex Randall and Nicky Richens
