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