I set off at 5.50am and headed for Neath. I arrived promptly at Dinas Rock Car Park at a quite respectable 9.40am. Having never been there before, I headed off for a mooch around before Richard arrived. Before long, Richard & Charlotte drove into the car park and we got kitted up (well I did, R & C just put some wellies on)
We set off along the river and up a slippery rocky path. We ignored the obvious route and carried on. Before long we could smell a mine adit and after making friends with some barbed wire, we were finally underground for 10.45.
The place was effin' huge! Vast chambers had been mined away using the pillar and stall technique, with tunnels running on approximately 10 (yes 10) explorable levels as well as approximately 4 unexplorable flooded levels.
We systematically worked our way around the mine, starting at the top, and working our way down. There was loads of cool stuff in there including an internal powered incline, brick pillars, long sections of staging that would withstand a nuclear bomb, mine carts etc. The mine was clean, dry and an easy walk around so suitable for all levels of ability (even mine).
We then left the mine and explored the gorge outside and crossed a very slippy river (twice, for no good reason). we then explored Middle Silica AKA Bwamaen Silica Mine which didn't take long and there was little of interest inside. We were above ground again at 2pm.
We headed back down to the cars to change into walking gear, before heading up a different river to explore the gunpowder works which were also very interesting. During this stroll along the river I didn't fall in a stream and get absolutely soaked which was a bonus!
Photos to follow...