A weekend of mine exploration based at the Bowline Climbing Club hut in Brynrefail. Three different mines were visited over three days, including two through-trips, a mountain hike up Snowdon in caving kit, and travels by bus, boat and skateboard.
Exploration of man-made subterranea started on Friday evening with a team of nine visiting Benault Copper Mine in the Nantlle Valley. This was the first SRT through-trip of the weekend, and was undertaken in the ascending direction making use of pre-rigged ropes. Various relics from the past were encountered along the way, including a pneumatic drill prop, a miner’s boot and a number of old ladders and chains before the exit level was reached. Most of the team then braved the deep water to daylight, while others opted to abseil back down the ropes to the lower level exit.
Saturday morning saw twelve CSS members in full caving kit joining the tourists on the bus from the Snowdon Park and Ride to Pen-y-Pass and walking the Pyg Track towards the Snowdon summit in glorious sunshine before deviating to the large grilled entrance of Britannia Copper Mine. This impressive SRT through-trip descends from Floor 5 (below the entrance shaft) to the exit on Floor 1, passing through many lofty workings, walking passages and interesting sights along the way. Blue and green formations are abundant throughout the trip, along with small crystal formations and numerous mining artefacts and timber constructions which still remain in situ within the mine workings. An exit point on Floor 3 offered the opportunity for a mid-trip snatch of sunshine and a fine view, before continuing on to the next section of abseils and traverses. Upon exiting the mine, an alternative route back was taken via the Miners’ Track, returning to Pen-y-Pass in time for beer and snacks at the YHA bar before re-embarking on the bus and a subsequent visit to the excellent Bakehouse pizza place in Padarn.
A journey north to Great Orme was made on Sunday to visit Pen Morfa Copper Mine. This trip was led by a member of the Great Orme Exploration Society (GOES), taking us on an extremely interesting and informative tour of the mine workings. This extensive network of passages and chambers was very different in character to those of Britannia Copper Mine, but was likewise well-endowed with a variety of formations, minerals and artefacts (including a wooden mine truck). The journey through Pen Morfa involved a number of short climbs and rope descents rather than SRT, plus the somewhat unusual bonus of travelling through the adit by means of specially made skateboards followed by canoe. A further bonus of an ice-cream van fortuitously parked opposite the mine when we emerged was a fine end to this action-packed club meet.
For more information on Pen Morfa and the mines of Great Orme see www.goes.org.uk
