5.DINORWIG
What a fanhatsoic place this is!
There is already a section about Dinorwig on my site here which looks at the project I have been undertaking for many years called ‘The Silence’ and it gives a fuller explanation about its history, so I won’t repeat it here.
It is now a World Heritage Site and deservedly so.
Photographically, it offers you, as a landscape photographer something ‘that little bit different’ because putting it simply, it just does!
For me, it is marrying the natural landscape with the man made, through the seasons and when you are there in weather when most would stay at home, you will soon realise just how worthwhile your efforts have been.
There is an official Slate Trail that runs through the site which occasionally meanders off, taking you into another world BUT be warned (not being condescending here) go off the beaten track and the terrain does become tricky and in some areas it is unstable. There was an enormous rock fall that occurred in the past two years and whilst you see Doinorwig ‘advertised’ on social media by so called ‘influencers’, they do NOT respect this location by treating and portraying it as an ‘adults adventure playground.’
It isnt.
It is a place where people died and toiled. I know you can put that marker on the castles that we visit but this is different. The castles have way marked routes but this place is as it was when closed in 1969 but now being reclaimed naturally and just begs you to explore.
The watch word is definitely respect and also be vigilant. I know ‘they’ ‘advertise’ it as family friendly but….well you get my drift. Its an old site with derelict buildings and slate that can be treacherous when wet.
My advice?
Do your best to stick to the paths and enjoy it. Safely.
Most who go there will atravel by car and arrive by the ‘bus terminus’ by driving through the village of Dinorwig. I cannot emphasise this enough as there has been a considerable amount of local dismay at people parking erraticallyand ignoring the yellow lines. we all need to be responsible. A bus can also be taken which you can catch in Llanberis. Check online for the running times.
Others will be a tad more adventurous and ascend via the National Slate Museum car park (the museum is currently undergoing renovation and will not reopen until 2027) and that’s quite a climb to attain before you get to the many levels.
Whichever way you take simply enjoy and I will reiterate again without being too overbearing, take care and respect the site.
It can bite!