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Dinorwic Quarry

4 miles (6.5 km)

Ordnance Survey Map Open Streetmap This walk explores the fascinating old Dinorwic Slate Quarry in Llanberis. At one time the quarry was the second largest slate quarry in the world, after the nearby Penrhyn quarry at Bethesda.
The site is now home to the National Slate Museum, covering more than 700 acres (283 ha) consisting of two main quarry sections with 20 galleries in each. The site is a fine place to explore on foot with towering walls of slate backed the mountains of Snowdonia.
The walk starts from Dinowic parking area at the western end of the site, just above Llyn Padarn. From here you can pick up the village tramway trail and follow it south east across the quarries towards Nant Peris. Around here you can pick up trails along Llyn Peris before heading back to the car park.

Postcode

LL55 3EU - Please note: Postcode may be approximate for some rural locations

Dinorwic Quarry OS Map Ordnance survey map - Mobile GPS OS Map with Location tracking

Dinorwic Quarry Open Street Map Open Streetmap - Mobile GPS Map with Location tracking

Further Information and Other Local Ideas

The site is part of the wider Padarn Country Park where you can also enjoy the Llanberis Lake Walk and the Llanberis Waterfall Walk.
The quarry is one of the significant sites on the Snowdonia Slate Trail which runs through the area. The circular long distance trail can be used to visit several of the other historic mining areas located in the World Heritage Site. Heading north along the trail would take you to Bethesda where you could visit the Penrhyn Quarry which was the largest slate quarry in the world during the 19th century. Heading south along the trail would take you to Dorothea Quarry where you'll find the remains of the old mining houses and a series of scenic lakes including Llyn Nantlle Uchaf.
The Llyn Peris Walk takes you up the steep zig zag path at the northern end of the lake. There are some fabulous views down to the lake from this elevated position.
For more walking ideas in the area see the Snowdonia Walks page.

Photos

Disused Quarry Barracks, Dinorwig Quarries - geograph.org.uk - 300939

Disused Quarry Barracks, Dinorwig Quarries. A row of roofless quarrymen's barracks in the Dinorwig Quarries.

Chwarel Dinorwig Quarry - geograph.org.uk - 221209

The north-eastern section of the vast Dinorwig Quarry, which once employed 3000 workers.

Air compressor, Ponc Australia, Dinorwic - geograph.org.uk - 1627592

Air compressor, Ponc Australia. This shed contains this Ingersoll Rand motor driven compressor and a Tilghman compressor. More than one book has made the mistake of caling this a steam engine. The motor has been smashed for the windings.

Dinorwig Quarry Inscription - geograph.org.uk - 206091

Quarry Inscription. Stone placed above the doorway to commemorate the visit of T.R.H Duke & Duchess of York, April 27 1899, to the site.

Victoria Slate Quarry at dusk - geograph.org.uk - 776300

Victoria Slate Quarry at dusk

The Dinorwig Quarry Railway Carriage Shed at Stabla - geograph.org.uk - 235103

Railway Carriage Shed at Stabla. This building dates from 1895 and was used to house passenger carriages for the Dinorwig Quarry line. These were used, morning and evening, to transport men to their work and back. The line ceased operating in the early 1960s. During the past decade the shed was used for stabling horses and donkeys, but, in August 2006, it was gutted by fire. The railway line ran along the now grassed area parallel with the building and was separated from the adjoining road by a slate fence.

Capel Jerusalem with Dinorwig Quarries in the background - geograph.org.uk - 1590725

Capel Jerusalem with Dinorwig Quarries in the background

The Dinorwig Tramway Bridge at Clwt y Bont - geograph.org.uk - 247039

The Dinorwig Tramway Bridge at Clwt y Bont. The tramway crossed the Afon Caledffrwd at Clwt y Bont. The main axis of this once separate village, long since merged with Deiniolen, follows the line of the old tramway. The bridge is built of waste slate.

Video

GPS Files

GPX File

Dinorwic Quarry.gpx (On Desktop:Right Click>Save As. On Ipad/Iphone:Click and hold>Download Linked File)

Memory Map Route

Dinorwic Quarry.mmo (On Desktop:Right Click>Save As. On Ipad/Iphone:Click and hold >Download Linked File)