Llechwedd
4.5
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About
Buried deep under the mountains of Snowdonia lies an extraordinary story: a rock revolution that shaped the look and feel of the world as we know it. A way of life which built communities and defined generations of families in North Wales. The Slate Mountain Adventure tour will take you on an incredible journey across the 2,000 acre site. Kicking off with an off road adventure to heights of over 1,500 feet in an ex-military truck, you’ll visit some of the historic mining sites at Llechwedd - some nearly 300 years old! After a quick stop for a hot chocolate, you’ll head underground on Britain’s steepest cable railway and explore some of the cathedral sized caverns and tunnel systems that miners in the Victorian era called home.
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4.5
1,976 reviews
Excellent
1,458
Very good
352
Average
97
Poor
45
Terrible
24
Conyer_KentNelson
Conyer, Kent9 contributions
Aug 2023 • Couples
Another damp day prompted us to book this tour at the last minute. The check in area was busy but efficient, and once through, we met our guide, Chris. He was extremely knowledgeable, very friendly, and super professional. He explained in great detail the history of the mine and the miners who worked there. The tour does involve a lot of steps, narrow passages and in places, low ceilings, however we didn't feel rushed and every one of us on the tour (our group was 10) was able to take our own time. All in all, a great experience.
Written 1 August 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
vintersorg81
Llan Ffestiniog, UK120 contributions
Jul 2023 • Family
Tour gone down over the years terribly. I live in Ffestiniog and came to see Llechwedd with my visiting family. Can't believe it's the same place as 4-5 years ago.Our tour guide was brilliant- and that's pretty much it to say good about the place at the moment. The tour is rushed, it uses to be a little boy-miner story you follow underground with lots of holographic effects, blasting etc....all gone now. All you can hear is screaming and laughing people on the other atractions ( golf, trampoline...?). Overground there use to be cottages to visit, slate splitting, kids could paint the slate etc....all gone!! I was told there is no slate splitting demonstration as there is no slate available!!! Joke. You don't see so many chambers like in the past, won't show you the cheese stored underground anymore. So sad to see this place badly commercialised. I Highly recommend slate museum in Llanberis for anyone who is looking for authentic welsh mine experience.
Written 19 July 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Pat
1 contribution
Jun 2023
The Deep Mine tour was cold, damp and utterly memorable! Our guide was a local former miner who described graphically the life of slate miners, to the point you felt you would never complain again about life ( in this country). There was lighting and special effects in places, but the tour was outstanding because of the recollections and banter of the guide (l hope they pay him well!). It was a longish walk but my 88 year old husband found it so interesting that the effort was worth it. As for the chill…l wore a top, a sweatshirt, a fleece and a nylon Mac, and l was glad to warm up in the cafe afterwards with a hot drink. The tour seemed more meaningful than the other thrills on offer at the site, though underground kids’ activities have appeal in lashing rain!
Written 23 June 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Meemee
5 contributions
Jun 2023
Disappointed
Yes it was a tour of the sate mines but it was very rushed (certainly not the amount of time in the mine as advertised - we had under an hour!!)
The guide, although being the last miner who actually worked there and is shortly retiring from guiding duties, seemed to have lost his enthusiasm.
He didn't allow time for us to take many photos and moved on too quickly for questions.
We have visited before and wondered where all the interactive information/holograms had gone!
We seemed to miss several caverns out on this visit.
Also found the gift shop extremely disappointing as we could not buy a specific souvenir pertaining to this mine experience- only general ones for Zip World experiences.
Having paid nearly £100 for us, I really cannot recommend this tour and would suggest people look for ones that are not simply a commercialized money making attraction.
Yes it was a tour of the sate mines but it was very rushed (certainly not the amount of time in the mine as advertised - we had under an hour!!)
The guide, although being the last miner who actually worked there and is shortly retiring from guiding duties, seemed to have lost his enthusiasm.
He didn't allow time for us to take many photos and moved on too quickly for questions.
We have visited before and wondered where all the interactive information/holograms had gone!
We seemed to miss several caverns out on this visit.
Also found the gift shop extremely disappointing as we could not buy a specific souvenir pertaining to this mine experience- only general ones for Zip World experiences.
Having paid nearly £100 for us, I really cannot recommend this tour and would suggest people look for ones that are not simply a commercialized money making attraction.
Written 4 June 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Simone P
1 contribution
Apr 2023 • Couples
Rob was our tour guide. He was incredibly knowledgeable. He also made me feel at ease as I was concerned about how claustrophobic it would be in the mine. Rob was reassuring and advised that the most enclosed part would only be brief and would be in the tunnels. He was absolutely right. We learned an awful lot during our tour and Rob was brilliant with the entire group, including the young children. The tour was very interactive. We got to hold a variety of tools and artefacts. Rob answered all of the questions the group threw at him!
Written 13 April 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ivy450
Southampton, UK4 contributions
Aug 2022
Fantastic tour of the deep mines today. Our guide, Brian was informative and interesting and we were engaged throughout the 90 minute tour. We had a good insight in the harsh working conditions of the miners at the time and the underground lake showing the water table in one of the chambers was fascinating. We went 5OO feet underground and our guide explained how he used to work 1200ft below! Just amazing to listen to his experiences first hand. Would highly recommend this tour for any visitors to North Wales.
Written 17 August 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Lambrooksteve
Martock, UK13 contributions
Aug 2022 • Family
This was an absolute gem of a tour made all the more memorable by Phil our guide who took us from the surface where he demonstrated splitting slate and introduced us to the workings of Llechwedd. From along line of miners (slate) he was able to convey the shear hard work, conditions and the ‘normal man’s working day’. We descended into the mine and throughout the tour we had either a demonstration from Phil or watched a scene projected onto the rock face. In our group we had 4 kids (9,9,9&6) and four adults, all of us thoroughly enjoyed the whole experience. Walking tunnels and visiting huge caverns that shouldn’t be there but for the ingenuity, persistence and shear hard work of the generations of Welsh men who had mined out the mountain. Thanks again to Phil who was great with all the members of the group and knew all the answers to our questions! He even rang up top to see if Steve could turn the heating on, when Florence asked him during the tour! Going is easy, I’m 6’ and had to duck in a number of places. Suggest taking a pullover or fleece as it’s noticeably cooler below ground. So glad we did this to get a glimpse in to the lives of people who ‘roofed the world’.
Written 11 August 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Emma M
Norwich, UK1 contribution
Aug 2022
DONT BOTHER!! We would give zero stars if we could. Avoid, unless you are happy to waste your money. Poor experience and ridiculously expensive for what it is. First staff told us incorrectly where to go, then told us we need to check in where there were horrendous queues due to bad weather. Some experiences were closed due to flooding so chaotic scenes. We had to stand in the pouring rain with 2 small children. It’s wales for goodness sake… surely you have better wet weather protocols? The people who could complete their tours were mixed with those that couldn’t. We were on time and queued for nearly and hour so late for tour we were booked on. Staff members standing around and not organising crowds, we were assured that we could get on tour as all times messed up. Finally got to experience where told tour was full, despite being assured it would be ok as queues causing delays. People with later times were on the tour we needed (2 hours early). Staff subsequently removed them from tour that had already started and allowed us on. We missed first 10 mins of talk due to this. Rushed getting us hard hats where our 4 year olds didn’t fit. Boy couldn’t be bothered to source one that did. The tour guide noticed it was ill fitting (bearing in mind its a safety aspect!] but said ‘it’s his first day’ and didn’t help. Once on tour, looked nothing like photos on website. Not spectacular at all. We would recommend not taking children down. It was sold on the train too. You are on it what feels like barely a minute and we were crammed it to a cabin for 6 when there was 8 of us. We paid £72 for this!! We know a response from Zip world will be they have won awards etc. but it seems it is overpriced and profit put before experience. We recommend you find a local mine that is half the price and far more enjoyable to support the community and not a large company.
Written 2 August 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jayne Marsh
Manchester, UK2 contributions
Jul 2022 • Friends
Such an informative trip. I last visited Llechwedd over 40 years ago and was so impressed with the standard of the trio. Georgia was a fantastic guide. Gave us all the information and was happy to answer any questions we had. Really brought home the working conditions from that era. Was happy to find someone to do so slate splitting for me. A perfect birthday trip out . Thank you to everyone there . I will be back.
Written 31 July 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Danny
Pontefract, UK13 contributions
Aug 2021
Honestly this was by far one of the best tours I've ever been on.
Now I apologise as this is VERY late... A few years late... But this tour was by far the best tour I've ever been on. The slate stuff was cool. Don't get me wrong. The truck was awesome. The scenery beautiful.
But where this tour really excelled was the guide! He was funny, hilarious and treated both myself and my wife as life long friends!
He made this tour and the holiday in general, by far, one of the best experiences I've ever had in this country!
Hats off to you sir!
10/10 will always recommend!
Now I apologise as this is VERY late... A few years late... But this tour was by far the best tour I've ever been on. The slate stuff was cool. Don't get me wrong. The truck was awesome. The scenery beautiful.
But where this tour really excelled was the guide! He was funny, hilarious and treated both myself and my wife as life long friends!
He made this tour and the holiday in general, by far, one of the best experiences I've ever had in this country!
Hats off to you sir!
10/10 will always recommend!
Written 19 July 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Pioneer57724366069
Isle of Wight, UK
are dogs aloud here
sazzy1983
Rugby, UK132 contributions
Yes they are allowed and if you want to leave them but not in the car there is some kennels for an extra cost
Is this disability friendly
Robiejohn
Droitwich, UK38 contributions
Most definitely not
Hi is there a lot of walking involved my husband has problem walking distances
Robiejohn
Droitwich, UK38 contributions
I do believe this attraction is not suitable
cmooney210490
Liverpool, UK48 contributions
I have a 5 years old and a baby will this be a suitable day out ?
Robiejohn
Droitwich, UK38 contributions
The 5 yr old yes I do think it would be difficult with a baby
AlsagerZippy
Alsager79 contributions
Can you take a well behaved dog
Robiejohn
Droitwich, UK38 contributions
Most definitely not
Do you have to wear overalls or just wear your own clothes?
Robiejohn
Droitwich, UK38 contributions
Just a hard hat that's provided for the deep mine
For the zip wire clothing is provided
