Cwm Cynfal Copper Mine

[Iain Robinson]

Location
SH 73624163


Directions
There's just space for one car if you tuck it out of the way at the cattle grid at SH 743418, then you won't get your car scratched if the farmer wants to move some massive herd of sheep through. Take the footpath across the road  down to the gorge. As you descend, an old trackway will be evident along the side of the gorge. Follow this down, passing several run-in adits.

Access
On public access land in the National Park.


Suggested Equipment
Ropes to reach the adit. No obvious belay point.


Length
50 yards according to Bick.


Flood Risk
None known


Mine Attributes
Copper

Description
An old copper mine worked on several levels within the Cynfal gorge. There are several adits, run-in, alongside the track. One run-in level below the track, and a possibly open adit below the track above the ravine. Unfortunately we had no ropes with us, so couldn't shuffle down to the hole in any safety.

At the end of the track there are three further run-in adits and shafts. I guess that material must have been brought out of the shafts from the levels below, going by the description in Bick's book.

David Bick, "The Old Copper Mines of Snowdonia", page 104:
"Perched above a deep and inaccesible ravine...the level extended 40 or 50 yards NW to the lode and about 10  yards beyond...The vein included a wide rib of copper, worsening to the west. At the intersection with the adit was a filled-in winze, also a rise leading to several higher levels and a further rise which must have extended  practically to grass."


Digs
none known

Links  http://robinsonmaps.blogspot.com/2011/08/secrets-of-cynfal-gorge.html

[Iain Robinson]

The old mule trackway down into the gorge. The adit is middle left where the spoil runs are.

[Iain Robinson]

Looking down into the gorge showing the mule trackway and the adit, middle left, with spoil runs coming from it into the Afon Cynfal below.


The adit from a run-in working below.


A Hobbit Hole- remains of a shaft connecting to the adit below.

[Ian A]

The "Hobbit Hole" looks horizontal ... did you pop in and have a look ?

Can you see a shaft ?

(Thanks for posting  )

Ian

[Iain Robinson]

Cheers, Ian. The photo doesn't really show it, but the hole was at the base of a conical depression about eight feet in dia. The opening was just about big enough to stick my head in, which I did...it seemed to go to one side and then down, but had been repurposed by a fox, so was a bit whiffy!!

[Ian A]

[quote="Teigl" post=2205].... had been repurposed by a fox, so was a bit whiffy!![/quote]

Joy. I know a cave like that which has been adopted by Badgers - more than "whiffy".

Since "Bick" (David?) suggests it is only 50 yards ... would you agree from the amount of apparant spoil ?

:dry:

Ian

[Iain Robinson]

Yes, it was David Bick, sorry- I should have mentioned that!

I think they tipped the spoil down into the gorge, so it would be hard to tell. But further along facing the Llan Ffestiniog end there are a couple of run-in adits which certainly suggest 50 yards at least from their spoil tips.

Badgers...scary!