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By Horse to Talysarn: Prince and Corwen
Courtesy of National Library of WalesIn my early twenties I lived near a forestry commission woods where the trees were being harvested by a team using a horse. This wonderful Clydesdale was called...
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The Abandoned House
After the equine excess of my last post, I thought it might be nice just to show some photographs, from an abandoned house that we found. While looking for a mine, of course. Normal industrial coverage...
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Ice cold in Alex
It was another bitterly cold day above Y Fron as we set out towards the Alexandra Quarry. We took a road that wound up towards a smaller quarry, Bryn-y-ferram, as we had spotted something fascinating...
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Baron Hill
Early spring is definitely the best time to visit abandoned places. Later in the year, boskage and the ferocious growth of brambles/nettles makes exploring and photography difficult.This spring we set...
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The Rhiwbach Railway Incline
Rhiwbach and the Engine House chimney, seen on a stormy day, looking east from the Rhiwbach Tramway.Slate quarries are often sited in awkward places. Rhiwbach is no exception; it is a remote site,...
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A glimpse into Bryneglwys
After a gap of a couple of years, we returned to Abergynolwyn to have another look at the Bryneglwys slate quarry. It was a beautiful, bright day and the landscape was beyond any adjectives I could...
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Pompren Barytes Mine
Earlier this year, we had a wander along the Llŷn peninsula. Not really looking for anything special, but with the hope that we might encounter a mine, a quarry or at the very least, some forgotten bit...
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Cefn Mawr - A fascinating post-industrial Landscape.
Cefn Mawr, put simply, is the ridge enclosing the north end of an industrial area that developed because of the Pontcycyllte aqueduct, its canal and its tramroads. Tourists who flock to look at the...
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NAMHO 2014, Rhiwbach and Cwt-y-Bugail
Every year, the National Association of Mining History Organisations holds a conference to discuss and assimilate knowledge about mining history. This year, the conference was in Bangor and was being...
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Last Man Standing
The last of the Blondin towers at Pen yr Orsedd, against a cold December sky. It's fellow towers lie on the ground where they have fallen in fascinating disarray. As someone who has difficulty working...
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Morben: a mysterious wander in the woods
The area around Machynlleth fairly bristles with slate quarries- the mighty Corris enterprises like Braich Goch spring to mind, or Ratgoed and Aberleffeni. The name Morben was a new one for me and...
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Closely Observed Blondins
I took another, closer look at the remaining aerial ropeway equipment in a certain North Wales quarry last weekend. I was fortunate to be accompanied by industrial photographer deluxe, Andy Marland,...
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Trefor quarry, part one.
Do you have a "Bucket List"? A list of things like swimming with Blue Sharks, bungee-jumping off the Empire State Building or paragliding naked over the Taj Mahal?Just lately, turning sixty, I've been...
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Trefor Quarry, part 2
We return to the Trefor Granite Quarry to take a look at the amazing crusher house and hoppers which dominate the landscape near Llanaelhaearn. It was another rain-free but hazy day, so we started at...
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A look at Penmnaen West Quarry
I always look forward to driving along the A55 from Bangor to Conwy; while it is highly dangerous at times, depending on how late the HGV's are off the ferry at Holyhead, it also rewards with some...
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Rural Decay: 1
Over the winter, we spent some time discovering and studying a good many deserted dwellings in the Llanllyfni area, on that stretch of high ground to the east above Dyffryn Nantlle. One of the first...
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Penmaenmawr- a closer look.
I should have known better. I'd found a footpath that climbed up the mountain to the top workings of Penmaenmawr Granite Quarry and, checking the road access on Google street view, all seemed perfectly...
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Rural Decay #2: Tal-eithin uchaf
Continuing our study of the deserted farms and dwellings around the ardal Nasereth/Nebo area is this look at a slightly larger structure, Tal-eithin uchaf. It's to be found off the road, but on a...
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Deeper and Down
The mist had closed in, to the extent that I wasn't quite sure where we were. Our footsteps on the slate road sounded as if they were coming from somewhere distant, while the giant five-ton rocks...
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The Coffee Pot Level
Yes, that's right- we finally made it. After some unavoidable business in Porthmadog, I realised that there might just be time to scoot over to Penmaenmawr and visit the old De Winton loco. The roads...
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