Llanberis: heritage and natural beauty

Location

Eryri National Park

OutdoorLads shares the exact meeting point with people who have signed up, closer to the date. See the OutdoorLads listing for details.

About this event

The landscape of Llanberis in the heart of Eryri is like nowhere else. The town sits at the junction of two lakes Llyn Padarn and Llyn Peris and lies at the foot of Yr Wyddfa the highest mountain in England and Wales. In the past is was a place where hundreds of men exported thousands of tons of slate through the ports of Caernarfon and Bangor. Nowadays it is a centre for outdoor activities of all sorts, and the starting point of two steam powered railways, the most famous being the one that ascends Yr Wyddfa. The area may carry the scars of two centuries of slate quarrying but it still provides attractive foregrounds for some of the finest and most famous views. Quite often, the best views of mountains are not from the summits, nor the valleys, but from halfway above on the opposite side as is the case with this walk. This event is more of a multi facetted day out as well as a good walk. Our journey combines the stark and remarkable slate workings of the Dinorwig quarries, views of the lakes and mountains, a castle visit and a small museum.  We will start with a look at the remains of Castle Dolbadarn (free entry) - one of the original Welsh castles built by Llewyn ap Iowerth to defend the are from the marauding Anglo Saxons. Then there's a pretty steep 1 mile uphill incline passing the famous Anglesey Barracks, a ruined row of miners cottages seen on many postcards and biscuit tins. The climb rewards us with a truly superb viewpoint. After this we will go on to see some of the shear rock faces and extraordinary mine workings which are on a vast scale and popular with daring climbers. The route then drops back down through the forest above Llyn Peris and gives us the opportunity for a quick visit into a museum which was a hospital to treat wounded quarry workers and contains exhibits of historical medical equipment and practices – a fascinating glimpse into the past. (free entry) Dogs are welcome to join us on this event but please note the following: This route may pass through areas with livestock.  Your dog needs to be well behaved and be on a lead at times. It must not affect other member's enjoyment of the event.  There may be stiles to carry your dog across. Your dog needs to have the stamina to keep up with the group. Bad Weather: This event will be altered or cancelled if persistent heavy rain is forecast - you will be notified in good time in this case. Please ensure your phone number is up to date, and subscribe to event messages.Are you new to Outdoorlads and considering your first event? Have a look at this link, hopefully it will help   https://www.outdoorlads.com/my-first-event Images by AndyM and authorised for use on this webpage