Llechwedd Slate Caverns, Underground slate mine in Blaenau Ffestiniog, Wales.
Llechwedd Slate Caverns is a former slate mine beneath Blaenau Ffestiniog, Wales, with illuminated chambers and tunnels carved throughout the mountain. The site spreads across different levels and includes both working quarry sections and visitor areas with historical reconstructions.
Slate extraction started here in 1836 and shaped the region's economy for over a century. The operation grew into one of Wales' major production centers and left deep marks on the mountainous landscape.
The Victorian Village area shows how miners lived and worked in the 1800s through reconstructed shops, a slate workshop, and craftspeople demonstrating traditional techniques. You can watch these practices happen in the underground rooms where they originally took place.
The temperature underground stays cool throughout the year, so bring a warm layer regardless of the season. Two different routes let you choose how much of the site to explore based on your energy level and interests.
The former quarry chambers house the world's only underground playground featuring giant trampolines suspended in the open space. This unusual feature brings modern recreation into the heart of the historic mine.
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