Location
SH734468
Directions
The best way to get to the mine is by taking the Cwm Teigl road from Llan Ffestiniog, all the way to the top of the cwm. Park in the Welsh Slate "Cwt y Bugail" car park just outside the gates. This site isn't Cwt-y-Bugail...I don't know what made them call it by this name. Head across the road to a trackway that goes off north east over a cattle grid. This is the Rhiwbach tramway branch to the old Manod/Bwlch-y-Slaters quarry.
Head along this, passing several intriguing looking workings and pits. A junction is reached with the main Rhiwbach tramway. Turn left and carry on towards the tips of Cwt-y-Bugail, which can be seen in the distance. ( You can turn right for a view down into the mighty Rhiwbach concern. )
You might have to avoid some flooded sections of the tramway, depending on the weather. After passing Blaen-y-Cwm below on the right, the track branches again. Take the right hand track. This takes you onto the main dressing floor of the quarry.
Access
As far as I know there are no access issues. The quarry is owned by Llechwedd; there was a plan in the seventies to untop the whole thing, but Llechwedd's attentions are diverted elsewhere at the moment. The mine is ungated.
Suggested Equipment
static ropes for access into the level C and D chambers, although C can be accessed by scrambling down the B3 tip.
Length
Various. I've explored level B which runs for possibly 100 yards , level C is longer as it runs through untopped chambers which cut the level B adits. There's also some underground passages still open in the north twll, about 100 feet, blocked by a fall.
Flood Risk
Level B seems safe from flooding, but D does flood in times of heavy rainfall.
Mine Attributes
Slate
Description
A very interesting mine that repays a bit of study. The barracks are the first thing to see, followed by the floor B mill and the manager's office with steps up to it. The wooden bases of machines are still there. Walking up to the S twll you pass some walliau on the left then into an untopped area, looking down on a chamber broken out to bank. You are now on level A and if you continue through the twll, will come to the remains of an adit through to the north twll, the North Vein quarry.
The adit emerges on a ledge. Make your way down to the floor and take the adit with the tramway running through it, to your right. This runs through to the S twll again. The defile to the left leads via some ropework to chambering on level C and D.
The perilous, stone lined adit in front of you goes out to the mills area, best not to go in here. It can be explored from the mill area where the adit has been cleared recently by some excellent fellows.
Retracing your steps back into the level B tunnel from the North Twll, you will find a fork in the tunnel. The left branch goes to chambering on level B which has unfortunately been cut from going any further by one of the three chambers that have broken out to bank. You can still go into chambers B2 and B3. It is possible to scramble down from B3 down into level C which goes a little further on into the three open chambers. Level D looms below, via a roofing shaft. Best to access D from the static line at the D-B incline in the south twll.
In the north twll there are two chambers, open to the sky. A tramway runs at the back of these...it leads on to the right towards a small flooded chamber, but this probably conceals a shaft... Originally, two adits from here connected up with the mills level out at the front of the mine, adits C1 and 2, both blocked by falls and quite perilous. To the left, the crosscut leads to another chamber broken out to bank, then a smaller chamber lit by a roofing shaft. C1-3 (North).
There are other adits on the site, some from level A workings which have been left high and dry,
There are many fascinating buildings and remains to explore.
Unexplored Passages
none
Links
http://robinsonmaps.blogspot.com/2010/07/cwt-y-bugail-last-outpost-in-blaenau.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cwt_y_Bugail_Quarry
http://www.penmorfa.com/Rhiwbach/Cwt%20y%20Bugail%20quarry.htm
The Mill
Tunnel through from S twll to the north twll. This is looking from the north twll.
The North twll with the open chambers. The base of a steam crane is above the tops of the chambers.
Level B adit from the north to the south twll.
The junction. Right goes to the N twll, left to level B chambers.
The other tunnel in the south twll. The roof looks about to fall, but then it has looked like this for the last 5 years!
The tunnel from the s twll that once led to the mills area, before collapse.
remains of a level A adit above the s twll
The way down to C and D, the South Twll and B-D incline.
One of the high chambers in the Nth Twll
Chamber B3
The mill
Connecting adit on level B
A marooned adit in the Nth Twll which comes from an old entrance on the west side of the mine.
The barracks
Iron leaching from the slate underground in the nth twll
Chamber C3 (North Vein)
The arched floor B mills tunnel into the South Twll. When you know how much loose slate waste is above that portal, you won't want to go any further!
In the Level B Mills Adit
The famous rubbish waggon in C3 North
Looking outbye from chamber B3
Level B Mill adit
Inbye from B3