Wrysgan Mine

Location
SH 678 456

Directions
From Blaenau Ffestiniog, head to the power station and drive up the hill right to the highest/farthest point you can and park at the parking area immediately before the gate across the road (above Tanygrisiau)

Walk up the road until you see a footbridge over the stream on the left and take the footpath there that follows the footpath up stream. You will shortly see a steep walk upwards on the left to the spoil heaps and the adits above them in layers.

Access
Ungated. Permission requirements unknown but thought not to be required.

Suggested Equipment
None but SRT optional for abseiling (at least one instance available) and Cow’s tails required for at least one traverse (the traverse is optional).

Length
Unknown but reasonable. Total passage(s) length probably 1-2 miles over 7 levels (if they are all still accessible)

Flood risk
None known but some passages are water logged but under wellie depth

Mine Attributes
Slate.

Description
Laying in the shadow of Cwmorthin, this slate mine is small by comparison but still appears to have 7 levels of slate chambers.

Walking across the footbridge at the bottom you can see what appears to be a drainage adit (to be confirmed?) which may also be level one of the mines.

Walking up to the first adit, it appears from signage that this is level 4. This adit enters the mountain with the first chamber having suffered some collapse (but very easily passable) and continuing in for a (so far) unknown distance. The passage beyond the first chamber has water to around 6 inches.

On the outside and continuing upwards there is another adit (presumed to be level 5) which drops down to a ledge with a wire traverse line off to the left and a short passage to the right which is totally blocked. (This ledge being the top of a slate chamber worked from below).

Upwards again, there is another adit (dry) which takes you into a collapsed (bit well travelled) chamber at the base of which is another route (not explored yet). This is thought to be level 6.

Again, travelling upwards outside, there is a further adit which passes through 8 slate chambers, the first 4 of which have been exposed to the surface. Along this entire passage is a significant drop on the right to the level below (the top of worked chambers) with two places where a descent could easily be made to join that level. This is thought to be level 7.

Unexplored Passages
A large amount remains unexplored

Digs
None Known

Links
http://www.mine-explorer.co.uk/mines/Wrysgan_619/Wrysgan.asp

http://www.jgd.org.uk/rotwsi/wrysgan01.html

http://www.aditnow.co.uk/mines/Wrysgan-Slate-Mine/

http://underex.fotopic.net/c1352530.html

http://www.ccpc.org.uk/gallery/v/mines/16th+October+2005+Wrysgan+Mine+033.jpg.html

http://www.frheritage.org.uk/wiki/Wrysgan_Quarry_Incline

http://www.hows.org.uk/personal/rail/incline/wry.htm

http://ukcaving.com/wiki/index.php/Meirionydd_Slate_Mines#Wrysgan

Wrysgan upper level (level 7?)

The entrance adit to the uppermost level (as per map above)





The adit heads in ....






One of the chambers exposed to the surface






The heavily collapsed chamber (as per the map) also exposed to the surface

The passage continues past the blockage





And heads on in .....






Stacked slate in the last chamber of the map above

The entrance to level 6 (presumed)





A self-explanatory sign found in various parts of the mine (this one within the entrance to level 6)





The passageway on level 6 by the sign

The entrance to level 5 (presumed)

This leads downwards for around 50 feet and comes to an abrupt shelf. On the left is a wired traverse.





Looking down at the main quarry plateau from entrance level 5

The Wrysgan incline down to the main road from the quarry plateau










Looking down through the tunnel of the incline (very steep)






The entrance to level 4 (presumed from signage)






Entrance level 4





Level 4






A drainage adit within the stream by the footbridge at the bottom - entry to level one ?