Moelwyn Slate Mine

Yet again it was late when I set off underground so I cou visit the mine I had planned to explore, so I ended up going up to Moelwyn mine just to record a short video. It's tough working away and trying to produce a decent video on the weekend when I've a hundred and one other things need doing 🙈. I'll try my best to get out to a decent mine next weekend 👌😊. It's you the subscribers and the kind comments that keep me motivated to prod videos each week. Thanks everyone ❤️🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿
#lostmines #welshslate #slatemine #snowdonia #stwlandam #ShonkyTours

[@BrumCraft]

Subbed! Great vid, I love abseiling too. I went to Tanygrisiau today to see the Cwmorthin ruins, will do this one too next time if I can get one of master keys...

[@Davidkinzett]

Great video Chris 👌

[@richie862]

your awesome I like It how u give a little history about all the mines u go in keep it up and stay safe 👍

[@shonkytours2039]

Thanks for the kind words, glad you enjoyed the video, keeps me motivated to carry on 😊

[@dannymidas88]

Another great video think I've watched every one of your videos 3 times over your one very lucky guy having that all on your door step keep up the good work and stay safe 👍

[@shonkytours2039]

Yes, plenty of mines to visit around here, going to have to widen the scope a few miles as I don't want to repeat mines (although I could make 10 videos of one mine as they are so vast) 😊

[@dannymidas88]

I don't mind repeat videos as I suppose you can't get all the good bits in.

[@jakesalt1252]

Thanks for another great video, I'm in the Navy and work away alot so it's nice to see a bit of home

[@strongestfan9823]

Great vids

[@GlenFair]

Another great video, thank you, really appreciate the work you put into them.

[@Mr44strong]

gonna check this place out next week ....cant wait !!

[@shonkytours2039]

Nothing interesting there, it's a waste of time, but its worth going over the ridge to Pant Mawr and fron boeth slate mines on Croesor side, they're much better

[@Mr44strong]

It was worth a look nice day out, After walked to Rhosydd up through Cwmorthin amazing scenery, bumped into a local on the way back called Peter .(quite a character) 🙂 @@shonkytours2039

[@dkgraham7847]

Hi Chris fantastic video again. Keep up the great work. Love the history you give us on the mines. To see the mines in there hay days must have been something to see. I have seen all your videos and my partner love's listening to your voice. Big respect to you 👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👌👌👌👌

[@shonkytours2039]

Thanks, I've got loads of old photos of the mines in their hayday, young children working too, I'll have to put them all into a video because they're fascinating

[@brew661]

Nice vid again mate,in was in the second level last week, small but worth a look,I climbed to the next upper level where its gated, I'll have a look for the lower level next week 👍,keep the tours coming

[@dazbarber71]

Shame it was overcast with the clouds. Would have been a great view that far up. You always come through and show the places I've considered visiting after looking on Google earth for slate spoils and cross reference on the Coflein website. Keep it up Bud and stay safe 😉

[@shonkytours2039]

Saves you a visit Darren 😂. To be honest it's one of the most empty mines around, but who knows what's down the lower levels, I'll have to go back with a rope sometime 👍

[@timvasbyburnie]

Fantastic. I walked along the miner's track just over a week ago, then down past the dam and back to where I was staying. I wondered what was in those holes, and why these were gated up. I have a question: I walked through the Aberglaslyn Pass, heading north from Pont Aberglaslyn, and the footpath takes you right past an adit. Have you explored that one? Does it lead to anything interesting?

[@shonkytours2039]

Yes, I think it's in one of my videos below, Aberglaslyn Copper mine. There's an adit right by the bridge. Also watch from 17 minutes onwards here, I turned Aberglaslyn orange after digging adit 🙈 kzbin.info/www/bejne/pXKofWamqZtricU

[@SueGirling68]

Hi Chris, the landscape is so dramatic and beautiful there, I think the mist gives the area a very mysterious feeling. Thank you for sharing, much love. xx ❤

[@Seat1AJoe]

To me, it’s mystical, magical and calm.

[@darreno9874]

Hi Chris, I enjoyed this one, short but sweet I've been to look at the surface remains several times when walking but never been in. I'm disappointed that you didn't wade chest deep in the lower level just for us🤣. I'm looking forward to seeing the video of the absail to the lower levels. Keep up the good work. God bless

[@shonkytours2039]

I thought about it, but because you're crouched down, you might as well be swimming 🥶😂

[@Seat1AJoe]

Thank you for this video and your shoutout. I am sincerely humbled. I really love watching your shows. The Little Woman laughed out loud and said that you, Christopher, made her day too. I tip me cap to ya mate.

[@shonkytours2039]

Your too kind Joseph. Im just glad you enjoy the videos, it motivates me to keep making them. A shout out or hello costs nothing and nice to show appreciation to the subscribers who enjoy watching 👏😊.

[@robertharding3262]

Another great video Chris keep them coming. I've just got back from a week of exploring the slate mines around Blaenau they are such amazing places can't wait to come back. I've been in Maenofferen 5 times now and still not explored it all it seems endless. I took the route through the mine which I saw on your last Maenofferen video and it was great I'd never been that way before it was very interesting. Had my first explore of Cwmorthin too which was great another huge mine. Have you ever done a video of Cwmorthin mine

[@shonkytours2039]

I won't bother with cwmorthin, I just don't agree with turning mines into theme parks. Yes, I don't mind using srt to access hard to reach places, but most go to cwmorthin just for zip lines etc. I remember it when it wasn't gated and raw, how a mine should be

[@robertharding3262]

Thanks for the reply Chris yeah I do agree with you. I've deen in Cwmorthin before with the Go Below underground Adventures and did enjoy it very much but do agree that mines should be left as they are. Seeing groups of people in there kind of ruins the experience of exploring. I enjoy the silence and peacefulness that the mines have. Look forward to your next video 👍

[@tomtom4405]

Thank you for the video - you think you're letting us down?? Absolutely Not, I GREATLY enjoyed it. If I want to see a CRTT video or whatever, I can choose from loads but not so many people bother to film somewhere like this - please keep making these videos. Is a Moelwyn Pant Mawr through trip still possible or have years collapses and daming the Llyn etc closed those routes? I was thinking about this in the past so extra interested to see you made this video. Hard to see on camera but that slate looks awful, I see loads or iron staining and churty cr@p, was it any good for roofing in that quarry or was it more doorsteps and slab etc there? THANKS AGAIN

[@shonkytours2039]

I think the best slate was extracted, just the shit slate left. Pant Mawr is much more extensive, but all adits are between knee and waste deep. Moelwyn wasn't connected to Pant Mawr, just it's the same vein and because so close they had to make sure one mine doesn't make the other collapse 🙈. Pant Mawr was connected to Fron Boeth, but not anymore, but you can do a through trip in fron boeth, but need to abseil where the missing bridges are

[@tomtom4405]

@@shonkytours2039 According to Wikipedia entry on Moelwyn quarry titled Interconnections with other mines "...the Pant-Mawr chambers were located beneath Moelwyn chambers, and there were some connections between the two quarries to ensure that this was the case..." Don't know if accurate? but that's the rumour, I know sometimes they would connect nearby things for surveying purposes like Moses Kellow overseeing the survey of C and R where they surveyed round in a loop (inside and back round the hillside) for accuracy. Dunno... I'd be interested if Moelwyn and pant Mayr ince connected and even more interested if they still do. Waiting for your video on lower levels on Moelwyn ;)

[@shonkytours2039]

@@tomtom4405 I've got a survey of Pant Mawr, it's much higher up mountain than Moelwyn, maybe if Moelwyn carried on extracting for another 30+ years it might get under Pant Mawr workings, but have a look at a sattelite arial map, you'll see how high up Pant Mawr is compared to Moelwyn

[@tomtom4405]

@@shonkytours2039 Thanks, looking at coflien Their pin for Pant Mawr is at 540m and the miners track passing Moelwyn is about 560m, so not having walked it myself it looks like a roofing shaft from the bottom of one could connect the top of the other on the old vein? but as the expert actually on site looking at it.. if you say it won't connect -- then I take your word on it. Thanks again!!

[@shonkytours2039]

@@tomtom4405 there's 18 levels and adits at Pant Mawr, bottom ones where Mill was is probably the 540 one, the ones closest to Moelwyn are probably 100 metres higher, and still above the highest Moelwyn level, which itself is only a chamber deep. Unless there's a tunnel longer than Rhosydd no. 9 in the deeper levels, which I doubt because there's definitely no connection in Pant Mawr

[@Rhun8Edz]

Falch gweld bod ti dal wrthi. Mwynhau gwylio’r videos 👍 edrych mlaen at y video nesa. Be ydi’r dorch fawr ti’n ddefnyddio plis?

[@SteveSmith-dx8el]

Video da eto, difir iawn chwarae teg - diolch o'r Sir Fon, ond dim Dick Sir Fon!!

[@patterdaledivecave3545]

How far is the walk Chris

[@shonkytours2039]

About 5 minutes from the dam, but getting to dam can take anything between 20 and 40 minutes depending on how fast you walk

[@patterdaledivecave3545]

@@shonkytours2039 Ah not too far then, we are back your way in a few weeks .

[@darrenwelling7562]

Wych, diolch am rhoi fideo I fyny, mor ddiddorol, di o'n anodd cerdded Ty mewn i'r ogof? Dwi'n dychmygu bysa fi a'r fy pen a gliniau!