Drws y Coed Mine

[Ian A]

Location
SH 545 534

Directions
Very obvious copper mine spoil heaps at the side of the B4418 (Rhyd Ddu to Nantlle)

Access
Open

Suggested Equipment
None

Length
Several hundred yards

Flood Risk
None apparent

Mine Attributes
Copper with some nice copper formations

Description
A beautiful part of Snowdonia ...

The mine comprises a scattering of adits over a short area on the side of a mountain. Getting to the higher adits requires a steep climb up spoil which is forever slipping downwards in an effort to thwart your ascent.

The upper adits are shorter than the lower ones and less decorated.

There are two main lower adits and one of these is completely backfilled. The adit of most interest is the lowest one with running water emerging. This is several hundred yards and is a maze of passages, some of which are quite pretty. There are shafts which “could” be rigged although there was no sign of any attempt to do so.

Water level was just under wellie height but this was in a heat wave. Watermarks on the walls suggest that the water would normally be knee depth at the entrance.

Unexplored Passages
Unknown

Digs
None known.

Links
http://www.mine-explorer.co.uk/mines/Drwsycoed_644/Drwsycoed.asp

http://www.aditnow.co.uk/mines/Drws-y-Coed-Copper-Mine/

http://www.welshmines.org/wms/publ/nl99_11c.pdf

[Ian A]

[Ian A]

[Ian A]

[Ian A]

[Ian A]

[John Nicholson]

When did you manage to do this trip?  Were you not tired enough after the Cwm Orthin mooch?

Did you not see the many other small adits on the South side of the road a bit further down the valley?

[Ian A]

Done Sunday afternoon John (today - the day after the Cwmorthin trip).

I didn't see any other adits but I must have scoured the mountainside from top to bottom and stuck my head into a good 6 or 7. Only one really goes anywhere ...



Ian

[Joel Colk]

Some nice pictures Ian. Are you still shooting on the same camera?

[Ian A]

[quote="Suboffender" post=6677] Are you still shooting on the same camera?[/quote]

Yes, my £25 ebay thingie. No fancy anythings, only a few buttons. I thought the photos were very poor though and I was disappointed. There again, I made virtually no effort - can't complain can I ?  



Ian

[John Nicholson]

The lipped, fungal looking, copper infused gower formations are fantastic.
It would be worth going in again with JohnO or other photographers with some lights to get some professional pictures.

Can I suggest a correction to your directions? I am sure most people would think the road from Rhyd Ddu to Caernarfon goes via Waunfawr and Caeathro.  I suggest you say the mine is on the road from Rhyd Ddu to Nantle, Talysarn and Penygroes.

I have seen somewhere a map of extensive mines in this area. One is entered by a vertical shaft (SRT) into the corpse of a sheep.

Can we join you next time you go exploring anywhere in our patch?  I did not know these mines were so good and so close to us.

[Ian A]

Thanks for the correction John - I have amended the directions.

I didn't know I was on "your patch" - anyone is always welcome to come along for an explore. This trip was on the spur of the moment with precisely "no time" for organisation

Ian

[David R]

Had a trip down there with another local guy and its very easy to find the lower adit from the road. Go over the style and walk up the path to your left through a gap in the fence and board. The adit is to your right with the water emerging from it. [img size=700]https://fbcdn-sphotos-a-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/t1/1528599_10202990118103465_513711919_n.jpg[/img][img size=700]https://scontent-a-lhr.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn2/1545683_10202990123623603_1347993676_n.jpg[/img]

[John Nicholson]

Well done for getting there this weekend! Sorry I could not join you. I did not pick up your messages till it was too late.  Excellent pictures!

[David R]

Finally uploaded a short video of the Mine. Enjoy.
[video width=425 height=344 type=vimeo]86096149[/video]

Will be going back down there over the weekend. Anyone fancy a trip down there over Saturday or Sunday?