Wrysgan Mine

I've visited this mine plenty of times but never filmed it. Seeing as I had spare time this afternoon I thought it was about time I uploaded a video of Wrysgan mine.

[@Carolb66]

I just love your videos, they are always interesting & you make laugh too, you are knowledgeable about the mines you explore, always stunning footage. Thank you❤😊

[@TheRopeAddict]

I enjoyed this explore Mr Shonky. Binging again.

[@ianmeggsmackenzie3085]

Very enjoyable / I’m an Australian x miner and have been in a lot of mines / 2 mines I would not have gone into are slate and coal / so I would in future go into either mine with friends and also advise where your going ( 2 cardinal errors that many people do ) got to admit you’ve got good trust in yourself going in by yourself / all the best for future videos and your explanations while in the mine are very informative thank you 😄🐿

[@shonkytours2039]

I wouldn't be so keen In going into coal mines. Too much bad air, and most are sealed. Slate mines are OK, they're well ventilated, only thing to be concerned about is where they've been robbing pillars, giving a massive unstable roof span. Where I live was the slate capital of the world, and world's largest slate mines at one time, so I've been brought up with the slate mines, and having family members working in the mines, slate is big part of my life. Yes I realise I break my own golden rule by not telling anyone where I go, but when I tell my missus she only worries, so I end up not bothering 🙈😂. As for explanations in video, I'm a bit camera shy, and stumble on my words when recording, and forget a few things 🙈😂. Glad you enjoy the videos though, It gives me the excuse to carry on making more 👌

[@johnterry8890]

Hello from Texas, USA! Thank you so much for the awesome content and sharing your amazing videos! This is so different than other mine exploring channels and I like it allot! Thanks again and please stay safe brother!

[@shonkytours2039]

Thank you so much for the kind comment 😊. Glad you enjoy the videos. It gives me the inspiration to continue visiting these amaz mines and documenting what's inside 👍

[@zenaakers7469]

it must have been so noisy and smelly and dusty and steamy down there when many men were working this place. Thanks for another outstanding tour. these tours compliment the education I am having about geology perfectly.

[@shonkytours2039]

Yes, it's so peaceful when we visit so it's hard to comprehend how noisy it would be with the drills, air compressors, blasting and carts rattling back and forth.

[@timvasbyburnie]

Thank you for this! I climbed the incline last week; it certainly isn't a stroll. What an amazing experience underground. One day I'll dust off the old caving kit, connect with some explorers and have a look myself.

[@SueGirling68]

Hi Chris, a very cool mine explore curtesy of Shonky Tours. Thank you for sharing, much love. xx ❤

[@shonkytours2039]

Thanks Sue 😊

[@rayroberts7915]

That incline from the road up is real hard core, climbed up it once, could not believe how steep in was when I looked back down from the tunnel. Well done

[@shonkytours2039]

Yes it's a killer 😖. I usually go up the miners path the other side but because I was filming thought i better had go the tunnel way

[@TheRopeAddict]

Christopher, when I was a bit younger I took up bicycle racing. Turned out I was a hill climber. I learned to never look up the hill. Looking up the hill can be self defeating. Instead I would concentrate one the front axle of the bike and keep riding and realize I’m not done yet and that I could survive the suffering. Looking up the hill was a mistake since I already knew the destination.

[@shonkytours2039]

I'm OK with hills and inclines, just that the camera doesn't do justice to how steep the inclines actually are

[@zGJungle]

Brave men to be removing pillars from those huge rooms, I don't even like touching the walls in mines if I can help it!

[@robertharding3262]

I've been in wrysgan a few times now and never new about that route through the mine will definitely be giving that a go next time im there. Another great video 👍

[@theproclaimer4000]

Visiting Cwmorthin and Rhosydd this Saturday but wdnt dare entire an adit. Love the videos.

[@shonkytours2039]

Hope you enjoy yourself. Once you pluck up the courage to go in, you'll be hooked. It's a different beautiful world underground 👌

[@campervan-john]

I came and subscribed to your channel after seeing comments on hell on earth channel.

[@shonkytours2039]

Thanks, I hope you will enjoy old abandoned mine videos 👍

[@hogynmon]

Ffantastic!! Unwaith eto Chris…..wedi mwynhau’n arw iawn, diolch 👍

[@shonkytours2039]

Diolch, falch ti mwynhau nhw 👍

[@patterdaleminecave3545]

We have had three attempts trying to find that incline and failed . What was very unusual about the video was blue sky . If you are from the UK you will know what I mean LOL . Another good vid

[@shonkytours2039]

It's on the upper level, up the incline on Mill level, there's a level 3/4 way up, not that one but at top of incline and along. there's a few open to daylight chambers then 2 or 3 underground. It's maybe the 5th or 6th along (guessing).

[@cynthiatyler1606]

Great one. Thanks for sharing.

[@shonkytours2039]

Thanks 🙏

[@zerofox7347]

Hey Chris, sorry for all the questions lol….just one more. Are the mines closed now because they’re all worked out or cos no demand? Thanks again for keep answering my questions.

[@shonkytours2039]

Still plenty of slate but Less demand and costing more to extract it the deeper they mined so wasn't as profitable

[@zerofox7347]

Imagine if you could see from the top to the bottom, It must be half a mile!

[@shonkytours2039]

Some chambers and inclines you can see quite far down for sure, it's makes your jaw drop with scale and impression

[@zerofox7347]

Hi Chris, do you know if the management told them to rob the pillars or did the mine workers do it off there own back, For a quick pay out type thing?

[@shonkytours2039]

They only robbed the pillars when they knew mine was on its knees and about to shut

[@user-eg8pv2om7j]

Have done this taking me about an hour as 1 fit devil ran up in less than 5 minutes. GGgggrrr ! Why is there a step of about 4-5foot inside the incline tunnel ? Also why is the air coming out of an adit usually so cold yet 10foot in its OK ?

[@shonkytours2039]

There was ballast and pack wall built up to that step, washed away after time leaving step Draught is because of the open chambers and gets funneled through the adit wanting to mix with the warmer air, once inside the chambers air settles down and is constant 8 to 10 degrees I can be right at the bottom of Maenofferen a kilometre from surface and a certain tunnel you can feel strong draught of fresh air

[@user-eg8pv2om7j]

@@shonkytours2039 Thankyou for your kind explanation. Always thought the Wrysgan incline tunnel shelf was odd. I could run up it in 3 minutes but I take an hour because I like to admire the views 🧐🤫🙄😳 Your videos are very real, as a person would see the journey. No pumping music or unecessary effects. You could make money as a guide or adviser. Perhaps a little more history , working conditions and techniques of mining/ quarrying would add even more. Also safety hints ,danger - warning signs , flooding ,gases eg Hydrogen sulphides from rotting wood in confined spaces would be excellent. Tell us about the equipment you use please ? What works for you, what do you take for a worst case scenario ? I would take 4 torches,1 in ,3 spares including 1 dynamo( won't run out + a high capacity water resistant-solar powered power bank with variable light output) I'm probably ridiculously over prepared . Food/ water / 1st aid ? How not to get lost ? Intuitive, experience,pre planning or ? A walking pole could offer extra stability, test water depth, floor stability and offer a camera / light mount. Helmets or not ? Chest / head mounted torch / camera against hand held ? Have watched Exploring with Fighters which can be ridiculous. No sleep,long journeys, no research, poor clothing, 1 torch each ,no other equipment ,bravado and exhaustion ? Their Maenofferen B incline was outrageous, foolhardy. Falling, exhausted, no map, no idea, nearly an accident/ rescue situation as they also actually had in Corsham ( a huge network of tunnels in Wiltshire worth having a look at ) In fact a whole video of how not to do it. Part machismo , part can we find some ghosts, part hyped up drama. Henllan, Dave Flowers, various cave / mine organisations can show good video explores + techniques. Gethin Jones , ( train4underground ) , Pete Knight ( caver Pete ), SubBrit, Penmorfa , GOES Great Orme exploration society ,Darkness below , Imperial college mines, Camborne school of mines , Mines rescue service , Go below ; all offer superb resources. Do you have a favourite author ? Love reading Ivor Wynne Jones, Gorden + Anne Hatherhill , Alun John Richards , David Gwyn , G + J G ISHERWOOD all heroes of mine. Safe journeys. Thankyou for sharing your experiences underground and the the hidden history beneath our feet few will ever see. A lasting memorial to our heroic ancestors lives.